FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A multi-agency operation dubbed “Operation Creeper Ban” has led to the arrest of 15 men on charges related to possessing and sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material and attempting to meet with a child for sex.
The suspects range from the ages of 19 to 42 and were arrested between the days of June 9 to June 13th.
According to the authorities majority of arrestees have since posted bond, been released from custody pending court dates.
The operation was launched in response to the increasing use of electronic devices and social media by children, which heightens the risk of encounters with sexual predators.
Detectives executed 11 search warrants at homes that were suspected of having CSAM.
This led to 13 arrests in Fresno and Madera Counties.
An additional 61 electronic devices were seized for further forensic examination.
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Additionally, 10 compliance checks were conducted on registered sex offenders.
During the operation, detectives posed as teenagers online to identify predators.
The suspects engaged in sexually explicit conversations and sent graphic images to detectives, believing they were communicating with minors.
Two suspects were arrested after arriving at a predetermined meeting location expecting to meet a child.
No actual children were involved or endangered during the operation.
The Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force spearheaded the operation.
ICAC comprises 66 federal, state, and local agencies, spread throughout nine counties in the Central Valley.
The task force receives thousands of CyberTip reports annually from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, highlighting the distribution and possession of CSAM.
ICAC urges parents to monitor their children’s internet usage and maintain open communication to build trust.
Online predators often disguise their identities to exploit victims.
Common apps used by suspects include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, Discord, Kik, MeetMe, and Scout.
Suspicious behavior should be reported to law enforcement.
Tips can also be sent to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Cyber tipline website or Click Here.
