In a significant crackdown on child exploitation, the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office announced that 19 individuals, including a Georgia politician, have been arrested in connection with a multi-agency human trafficking operation. The operation focused on individuals attempting to purchase sex with minors, with the suspects lured through social media and dating websites. Thankfully, authorities confirmed that no children were harmed during the operation.
Sheriff Greg Countryman emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating, “It takes a sick individual to want to take away a right that a child has—the freedom, safety, and comfort that a child deserves.”
The operation, conducted over four days from April 25 to 28, led to the arrests of 32-year-old Carl Sprayberry, who ran for Georgia House of Representatives District 139 in the 2024 election, along with 18 other suspects. The targets were individuals who engaged in sexually explicit online communication with children, arranged meetings to engage in sex, and traveled to do so.
District Attorney Don Kelly highlighted the meticulous planning behind such operations, noting, “Protecting our children from these kinds of predators is one of the most important things we can do both as law enforcement and as prosecutors.”
Sheriff Countryman also urged parents to monitor their children’s online activity, warning, “It’s OK to be a nosey parent. Know who they’re speaking with because we’re not going to stop until they stop preying on our kids.”
The operation underscores the importance of vigilance in the fight against child exploitation.
