Operation Byte Down, a statewide child exploitation operation has led to the arrest of 17 total people with six being from local areas.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said they carried out the operation alongside 33 other agencies that are members of the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
“Operation Byte Down identified 13 children that were living in households where online child sexual exploitation was occurring and one of those arrested admitted to current or prior hands-on sexual offenses against a child,” a GBI press release read.
The following individuals were arrested and charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children and other related offenses:
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Kong Hon Yim, 63, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
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Ezequiel Ortiz, 30, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
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Jianglin Meng, 26, of Norcross, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
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Morgan Albright, 18, of Winder, Georgia, booked into the Barrow County Jail
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Thomas Walker, 37, of Helen, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail
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Jonathan Sells, 39, of Cleveland, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail
Law enforcement agencies with the ICAC Task Force executed 30 residential search warrants across the state, during the operation.
Digital forensic investigators examined close to 137 electronic devices at the scene and seized nearly 361 electronic devices, including cell phones, tablets, computers, hard drives and various electronic data storage devices.
Operation Byte Down involved proactive and reactive investigations.
Proactive investigations focused on catching individuals sharing child sexual abuse material through peer-to-peer networks as well as undercover operations targeting those trying to meet children for sexual acts.
Reactive investigations involved following up on cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children related to the possession, distribution, or production of CSAM.
Local agencies that the GBI worked with on Operation Byte Down include the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office and Helen Police Department.
To report cases of child exploitation contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at CyberTipline.org.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
