A Covington man was one of 18 people arrested and charged with crimes related to possession, production, or distribution of images of child pornography by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Wednesday.
The arrests were the result of a 3-month statewide investigation by the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit (CEACC) and the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Twenty-four search warrants were executed in 16 counties in an action known as Operation Secret Guardian which began in July and centered on GBI Agents, along with local and federal Georgia ICAC Task Force affiliates, detecting child pornography images being shared using the internet. The purpose of the operation was to arrest persons who possessed, produced, or distributed images of child pornography using the internet.
Over the course of the operation, 69 digital devices were examined and 232 digital devices were seized as evidence. Over the course of the operation, 18 arrests were made as a result of evidence and information obtained during the search warrants. Those arrested were charged with OCGA 16-12-100.2, Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007. Additional charges may be forthcoming. Additional arrest warrants have been issued and other arrests may occur after analysis of seized digital devices.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office was one of 33 local, state and federal criminal justice agencies involved in the operation.
The targets of Operation Secret Guardian were those who produce or who create the demand for production of child pornography - which is essentially photographic evidence of the sexual assault of a child. By collecting and distributing this material, they create the demand for production of child pornography.
Jaco Armani Griggs, 29, listed by the GBI as unemployed/disabled, was one of the suspects arrested Wednesday.
Other suspects in Operation Secret Guardian were:
Earl Benson, age 68, Dawsonville, GA, contract employee
Joseph Brantley - age 59, Waynesboro, GA, auto parts store employee
Jeremy Converse - age 37, Dallas, GA, tow truck driver
Casilvo Valdivi Crisanto - age 42, Glynn County, fast food restaurant worker
Isidro Delibrado - age 49, Marietta, GA, flooring installer
Richard Ellis Ford - age 42, Rossville, GA, fast food worker
Tyler Kauffman - age 23 Marietta, GA, unknown
Jason Kingry - age 43, Atlanta, GA, construction worker
Bobby Justin Lynn - age 29, Buford, GA, retail worker
Uriah McCullers – age 37, Bethlehem, GA, Deputy
Julio Gomez Munoz – age 28, Roswell, GA, restaurant worker
Samuel Oh - age 30, Hinesville, GA, military personnel
Juan Cesar Olvera - age 38, Athens, GA, restaurant worker
Matthew Payton - age 32, Smyrna, GA, fast food worker
Christopher Rinker – age 46, Hamilton, GA, LAN engineer
David Christopher Sammons - age 29, Eatonton, GA, aerospace company employee
Colby Harrison Waldroup - age 23, Monroe, GA, unknown
“The investigators who work child exploitation cases are some of the most dedicated law enforcement officers there are, despite the psychological toll this type of investigation exacts on them,” said Georgia ICAC Commander and GBI Special Agent in Charge Debbie Garner.
