An Oklahoma man is behind bars after investigators say he traded sexually explicit messages with someone he thought was a 15-year-old girl online, only to learn it was a Louisiana State Police trooper working undercover. Authorities identified the suspect as 40-year-old Jason Edgar Daniel and said he faces state charges that include indecent behavior with juveniles, attempted production of child sexual abuse material, and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. FBI agents in Oklahoma arrested Daniel on active Louisiana arrest warrants, and he is being held there pending extradition to East Baton Rouge Parish.
Undercover operation began in January
According to a Troop A news release on Facebook, Louisiana State Police said its Special Victims Unit, working with the FBI's Baton Rouge Resident Office, launched an online undercover operation in January targeting people who sexually exploit children on social media. The release states that the suspect engaged in sexually explicit conversations with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old and later admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material on his phone, as detailed by Louisiana State Police.
Arrest made in Oklahoma
FBI agents in Oklahoma took Daniel into custody on the Louisiana warrants on Monday, according to WBRZ. The outlet reported that Daniel is a registered sex offender in Oklahoma and that he is being held there while authorities arrange his extradition to the East Baton Rouge Parish jail.
Part of a larger crackdown
The arrest comes as officials highlight a coordinated, multi-agency effort in the Baton Rouge area that resulted in dozens of recent arrests. At a May 18 press conference, state officials outlined "Operation Restricted Domain," and coverage by WAFB noted that the sweep targeted registered sex offenders accused of violating Louisiana registration laws and engaging in unlawful online activity.
What happens next
Daniel faces state charges and could be brought back to East Baton Rouge Parish to face formal prosecution. Louisiana State Police said in the Troop A release that the investigation remains active. The agency also shared an anonymous online reporting form for tips at la-safe.org and urged anyone with information to use the contact options listed in its statement on Louisiana State Police.
