Nine suspects were rounded up in Hall County late last week as part of an online undercover sex sting operation.
Lt. Don Scalia, the supervisor of the Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (MANS) said vice officers with the unit, along with Hall County Sheriff's Office deputies and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation wrapped up a two-week operation at an undisclosed location in the North Hall area.
Law enforcement acted in an undercover capacity, according to Scalia. They began making arrests around 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 and wrapped up the operation about 12 hours later.
Scalia said two suspects believed they were communicating with a 14-year-old, so the charges against those two suspects differ from those against the others who were arrested. Seven of the suspects allegedly believed they were soliciting adults for prostitution.
The names of the suspects and their charges are listed below:
Joseph Martin Materne, 26, of Watkinsville
Sexual Exploitation of Child
Robert Dean Martin, 22, of Gainesville
Criminal Attempt to Commit Child Molestation.
Israel Antonio Sanchez, 31, of Gainesville
Pandering.
Edward James Hodges, 36, of Oakwood
Pandering.
Ricky Edwin Nix, 54, of Oakwood
Pandering.
Owen D. Canfield, 51, of Crossett, AK
Pandering.
Chad Andrew Weaver, 27, of Clermont
Pandering.
David Marrero, 40, of Gainesville
Pandering.
Jack William Rosa, 25, of Winder
Pandering.
Scalia said no further arrests are expected in this investigation. However, Scalia said undercover investigations of this nature will continue in the future.
