Sixteen men were arrested after a coordinated, multi-agency undercover operation in Nash County in which officers posed online as minors. The four-day February sweep, according to authorities, led to more than 80 criminal charges and brought together roughly 150 officers from over a dozen law-enforcement agencies working across multiple jurisdictions.
According to WRAL, 13 agencies took part in the sting, with arrests carried out in Nash County and nearby areas. Agencies named by officials include the Nash County Sheriff's Office, the Rocky Mount Police Department, the Raleigh Police Department and the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office.
"The operation demonstrates the power of teamwork and shared commitment across jurisdictions," said Caleb Shockley, who helped coordinate the effort, according to WRAL. Investigators said they posed as underage users online in order to identify and detain suspects before they could make contact with real children.
How the Sting Worked
Investigators set up decoy accounts on social media and messaging platforms, then engaged in online conversations with adults they believed were trying to exploit minors. Federal child-protection initiatives and the FBI describe such decoy operations as a standard tactic that aims to stop meetings between suspects and actual children while building prosecutable cases.
What Parents Should Know
Law-enforcement leaders urged parents and guardians to report any suspected child sexual exploitation, whether online or offline, to local police or to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. For tips or to report suspected online exploitation, officials pointed to the NCMEC CyberTipline, and reminded the public to call 911 if a child appears to be in immediate danger.
Legal Next Steps
Those arrested face multiple criminal counts that investigators say add up to more than 80 charges. Prosecutors in the affected counties are expected to review the evidence and determine which formal charges to file.
Authorities have not yet released complete suspect lists or detailed charge information, citing ongoing bookings and arraignments. Officials said additional arrests or follow-up investigations are still possible as they work through the online evidence.
Describing the sting as part of continuing efforts to keep children safe online, state and local officials asked anyone with relevant information to contact their local law-enforcement agency. No further details about court dates or the identities of the 16 men were immediately made public.
