PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WDNews)
– A four-day undercover sting targeting online child exploitation led to the arrest of 10 individuals, according to authorities in Bay County, Fla.
The operation, dubbed
Operation Sand Trap
, was carried out by the Panama City Beach Police Department in collaboration with the Northwest Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Law enforcement officers posed as minors online, and the suspects allegedly attempted to arrange meetings for illegal sexual activity.
The following individuals were arrested after reportedly arriving at a pre-arranged location, believing they were meeting with minors:
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Amani Shackur Lawrence, 27, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
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Evan Rose Ellenberg, 40, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
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James Sidney Cook, 58, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
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George Eric Christinsen, 39, of Woodridge, Va.
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Justin Willian Gifford, 27, of Enterprise, Ala.
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Jackson Crawford Cheek, 20, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
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Jujuan A. Wells, 29, of Panama City, Fla.
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John Douglas Faulkner, 56, of Rosemary Beach, Fla.
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Michael J. McDonald, 71, of Tallahassee, Fla.
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Matthew W. Jones, 41, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
Amani Shackur Lawrence, 27, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
Evan Rose Ellenberg, 40, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
James Sidney Cook, 58, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
George Eric Christinsen, 39, of Woodridge, Va.
Justin Willian Gifford, 27, of Enterprise, Ala.
Jackson Crawford Cheek, 20, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
Jujuan A. Wells, 29, of Panama City, Fla.
John Douglas Faulkner, 56, of Rosemary Beach, Fla.
Michael J. McDonald, 71, of Tallahassee, Fla.
Matthew W. Jones, 41, of Panama City Beach, Fla.
Police reported one of the suspects was also wanted internationally.
Charges filed include solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, unlawful use of communication devices, and transmission of harmful materials to a minor.
Agencies assisting in the operation include the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Panama City Police Department, Lynn Haven Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Officials say the investigation remains active, and more arrests are possible.
