GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – In a joint operation with the Attorney General’s office, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office has arrested nine men accused of being online child predators.
Sheriff Carter Weaver announced on Monday, that the sheriff’s office was able to arrest the nin alleged predators after “Operation Tidal Wave.” He said the operation began in late February and included multiple state agencies including the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The operation was able to target people who were previously known to attempt to start relationships with minors online. The sheriff’s office said the suspects were arrested when they attempted to meet the people who they thought were children.
Additionally, some of the suspects face additional charges for sharing explicit photos online or bringing drugs to the meet-up, according to the sheriff’s office. Online records show most of the suspects were arrested in February.
Five of the arrested were from Myrtle Beach. Those arrests and charges are as follows:
Thomas Jarrod Hood, 32
- Distribution of methamphetamine
- Solicitation of a minor
- Criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
- Dissemination of obscene material to a person under 18 years of age
Nicardo Melbourne Vassell, 35
- Failure to stop for blue light (attempted to flee)
- Solicitation of a minor
- Criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
Kevin John Richmond, 51
- Solicitation of a minor
- Sexual exploitation of a minor 1st degree
- Criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
- Dissemination of harmful material to minors
Nicholas James Russo, 31
- Solicitation of a minor
- Attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, victim aged 11 to 14 years
Robert Edward Calloway, 48
- Solicitation of a minor
- Criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
Weunder Inai Segura Lopez, 34, North Myrtle Beach, Mark E. Tilghman, 62, Surfside Beach, and Jason Alexander Morgan, 25, of Calabash, NC, were arrested on solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years.
One man, Julio Francisco Gomez Sauzo Apellidos, 31, listed as a foreign national, was arrested for solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim under 16 years of age.
“The sad reality is that I am not surprised by the number of predators that were charged, but I am sickened nonetheless by how arrogant and willing they were to victimize our children,” Weaver said.
Federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the US Secret Service, the US Attorney’s Office also assisted with the busts.
Seven of the nine men have been released on bond. Hood and Lopez are still being held at the Georgetown County Detention Center.
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