A statement released Wednesday, Aug. 9, by Goose Creek Police Department Chief LJ Roscoe highlights a four-day effort to zero in on sexual predators. The sobering results warranted a cautious reminder to parents and guardians to be on point with watching their children's internet use.
Roscoe reported between Feb. 13 and Feb 17 of this year, the GCPD hosted an operation directed toward internet crimes against children called Operation Cupid.
The effort, Roscoe said, was initiated by the GCPD with collaboration and assistance from agencies that included the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, FBI, United States Secret Service and Homeland Security. Also involved were various state and local law enforcement agencies.
The operation, Roscoe stated, utilized social media platforms to find adults actively pursuing vulnerable children in hopes of sexually abusing them.
"The Goose Creek Police Department secured a residence within the city limits and had five subjects travel to the residence with the specific intent to have sex with a juvenile," Roscoe said in the release. "Since the completion of the operation five more subjects have been arrested, and six more have multiple warrants pending their capture."
There are 20 other subjects throughout the United States being actively investigated and once the subjects are identified, they will face arrest and prosecution, Roscoe said.
The charges for the arrested individuals include criminal exploitation of a minor, criminal solicitation of a minor, disseminating obscene material to a person under 18 and attempted criminal sexual contact with a minor.
All of the pending cases will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office that states all suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
In the release, the Roscoe urges parents and guardians to actively monitor their children’s internet use and to have candid conversations with their children about the dangers on social media platforms.
