GBI Announces Child Exploitation Arrests

A Habersham County man is among those arrested during a multi-state operation targeting those who allegedly sexually exploit children by using the Internet.

“Operation Southern Impact” involved law enforcement agencies from Georgia and Alabama, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The GBI said 17 people were arrested in Georgia during this operation, including 34-year-old Daniel Ridley of Cornelia.

According to the GBI, those arrested in Georgia were charged with crimes pursuant to the Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007.

Authorities said additional charges may be forthcoming and other arrests may occur after analysis of seized digital devices.

The joint, proactive investigation was coordinated by the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and focused on those who possess and distribute child pornography and those who are sexually exploiting children in other ways using the internet.

The GBI said planning for “Operation Southern Impact” began approximately 3 months ago and culminated in 2 days of search warrant executions and arrests in Georgia and Alabama.

A total of 54 search warrants were executed in Georgia and Alabama.

Law enforcement officers conducting the searches were looking for evidence of possession and distribution of child pornography using the internet as well as evidence of other child exploitation related crimes.

Over the course of the operation, 162 digital devices were examined and 731 digital media and devices were seized as evidence in Georgia and Alabama.