Three men were apprehended, and a fourth is currently sought by law enforcement following an undercover child sex sting operation in Hall County, officials reported. Dubbed "Operation Good Shepherd," the joint sting by Hall County deputies, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Floyd County police happened over two days, catching suspected predators in the act. The operation took place on January 12 and 13, with the officers posing as minors on social media platforms.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the arrested individuals are 38-year-old Dwayne Larry Drake, who faces charges including trafficking of a person for sexual servitude and sexual exploitation of a minor, 34-year-old Billy Cason Elder, and 30-year-old Mohammed Sadiq, both charged with electronic exploitation of a minor. Deputies report that the suspects were expecting to meet a person believed to be under the age of 16 for sexual encounters.
The fourth suspect, identified as 23-year-old Braselton resident Deavonte Clark, is still at large after fleeing from authorities. A warrant has been issued for his arrest on the charge of electronic exploitation of a minor. Atlanta News First notes that the investigation is active, and law enforcement is calling on the public for assistance in locating Clark.
The Hall County Sheriff's Office has emphasized the seriousness of these crimes and the importance of protecting children from online exploitation. As the weekend's sting concluded, the arrested suspects found not a minor but an assembly of law enforcement ready to make the arrests. Bonds for Elder and Sadiq were set at $8,450 and $7,900, respectively, while Drake was denied bond. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Deavonte Clark is urged to contact the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
