Federal, State and Local Authorities Announce Multiple Arrests of Non-Compliant Sex Offenders and Child Exploitation Crimes Across Mississippi

OXFORD, MS- U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi (USAO NDMS), Scott Leary, hosted a press conference announcing the results of Operation Muddy Waters, a statewide initiative spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to target child sex offenders and child exploitation crimes across Mississippi. The operation coordinated with federal, state and local law enforcement across the state. The operation began July 20 and ended July 31.

In total, Operation Muddy Waters led to 13 child exploitation arrests, 48 sex offender absconder arrests, two referrals to Louisiana and Colorado, one victim recovered, more than 8 search warrants, more than 50 devices seized for forensics and at least three immigration detainers.

Those participating in this operation with HSI and USAO NDMS included:

• U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi
• U.S. Marshals Service
• Mississippi Attorney General's Office
• Mississippi Department of Public Safety
• Marshall County Sheriff's Department
• DeSoto County Sheriff's Department
• Oxford Police Department
• Forrest County Sheriff's Department
• Hinds County Sheriff's Department
• Harrison County Sheriff's Department
• Pearl County Sheriff's Department
• Hancock County Sheriff's Department

Scott F. Leary, U.S. Attorney, stated, "When dealing with child exploitation cases, it's time to pause and reflect on why a government exists: It is to protect and provide a better world for our children, everything else is secondary. This principle can be found in our Declaration of Independence, our founding document: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, ...' The Declaration's vision is that of universal, inalienable God given rights. We are duty bound to protect these rights, especially as they apply to our children. Under no circumstances can American society equivocate this duty. No rationalization, no ambiguity, no tempered response, victimizing children is evil and a civilized society cannot tolerate it. We will be absolutely relentless in our pursuit of those who seek to exploit our kids. These crimes are an abomination. I want to thank those agencies that share this vision, the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Marshal Service, the Mississippi Attorney General, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, and the Police Departments and Sheriff's Offices who work with us. Together we serve the citizens of this great state. We work hard not to let you down."

"Those who choose to hide behind a computer screen to exploit children will not remain hidden," said Matthew Reidell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI Gulfport. "Operation Muddy Waters demonstrates HSI's unwavering commitment to protecting children, supporting victims, and holding offenders accountable. We will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to bring these crimes to light, pursue those responsible and help prevent further harm."

"For two weeks, federal, state, and local law enforcement have been working together to find the predators who hide in plain sight in our communities. And the outstanding number of arrests made during this operation point to the power of this partnership," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "But the most important number coming from this operation is the one child victim that was saved from a sextortion scheme in progress. The work done in this operation made all the difference to this child and to countless others who are a little safer online right now."

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

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