The Grovetown Police Department made several arrests during “Operation Mask Off” over the weekend.
“Operation Mask Off” was targeted on-line child predators in and around the CSRA from Thursday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 31, said Grovetown Police Chief Jamey Kitchens. The Grovetown Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force conducted the operations.
Over the four days, investigators and undercover agents engaged with over, 1,200 individuals over the internet and cellular apps. Out of these individuals, 208 confirmed adults expressed a desire to meet up for sexual activity.
“Despite being advised multiple times that they were conversing with a “child,” 43 individuals stated that they wished to travel to meet for sex, offering payment in exchange,” Kitchens said in a news release. “Of that 43, 12 indicated that they were in fact traveling to pre-arranged meeting locations provided by the investigators. Three individuals followed through with their plans and traveled to the meeting locations, where instead of a “child” they were met members of the Grovetown Police Department.
The three people arrested after traveling to meet the “child” were Jose Polidecto Lemus, 41, from Virginia, Clinton Chad Wilson, 42, from Louisville and Do Nhut Minh, 25, from Pearland, Texas.
All three men have been charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and were taken to the Columbia County Detention Center. Additional charges are pending. For Lemus, it was determined he is in the country illegally and an ICE detainer has been placed on him too, Kitchens said. As part of the operation, multiple electronic devices and three vehicles were seized.
As part of the operation, warrants were obtained for Willie Hines, Jr., of Spartanburg, S.C. on the charge of sexual exploitation of children. Kitchen said he was identified during the chats and is also wanted out of Gwinnett County on similar charges.
“This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges and arrests are anticipated as other individuals are identified,” Kitchens said.
Along with the Grovetown Police Department and GBI, the following agencies assisted in the operation: Army Criminal Investigations Division, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Community Supervision, Hall County Sheriff’s Office and Waynesboro Police Department.
“The Grovetown Police Department is proud to be partnered with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation ICAC Task Force and will continue to work diligently to identify and prosecute those in our community, or elsewhere, who prey on our most vulnerable,” Kitchens said.
