LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office says 11 people were arrested in what it is calling “Operation Summer Heat.”
LCSO said its criminal investigation division special operations team recently concluded the operation, which involved a multi-day child exploitation sting that concluded over Labor Day week. The sheriff’s office said 11 men were arrested for a total of 36 different charges.
Authorities said the operation focused on identifying people who:
- Engaged in sexually explicit conversations with children online,
- Arranged to meet a child for sex,
- Traveled with the intent to commit unlawful sex acts,
- Attempted to purchase sex with a minor, or
- Tried to traffic a child to others.
LCSO said the suspects in the investigation used social media platforms, messaging apps and online gaming spaces to target children, and some of them arrived at meet-ups with deputies armed or with drugs.
The sheriff’s office said the following people were arrested as part of the operation.
- Joshua Thrower, 26, of Guntersville, AL – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Eduardo Tomas, 19, of Athens, AL – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Deante Mallory, 26, of Huntsville, AL – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Stacey Lewis, 32, of Decatur, AL – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Anthony Greene, 42, of Huntsville, AL – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Eligah Redus, 30, of Athens, AL – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Attempting to Elude, Possession of Marijuana II, Resisting Arrest
- Lucio Mateos-Hernandez, 33, of Mexico – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child (ICE Detainer)
- Jajuan Tavarez, 24, of Tuscaloosa, AL – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Edgar Lopez-Salucio, 25, of Mexico – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child (ICE Detainer)
- John Cleveland, 44, of Huntsville, AL – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Geyner Lopez-Hernandez, 33, of Mexico – Human Trafficking 1st, Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child (ICE Detainer)
LCSO said all 11 men are being held without bond at the Limestone County Detention Facility pending Aniah’s Law hearings.
The sheriff’s office said Operation Summer Heat was a part of The Millstone Project, a project launched by Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin, which aims to be a comprehensive program to fight child exploitation.
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