Kenner police say a month-long undercover cyber sweep in May ended with 12 arrests and 35 criminal charges tied to alleged online predators operating across several states. According to the department, detectives went undercover on social media, gaming platforms and dating apps, focusing on adults who tried to engage minors. Investigators say the suspects have connections to Louisiana, Texas, Ohio and Michigan, and note that the probe is still active.
Department details and partners
According to a May 28 post from the Kenner Police Department, the operation ran through the department’s newly launched Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) lab and brought in a slate of partner agencies. Investigators from the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the Livingston Parish and St. Charles Parish sheriff’s offices, the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office and federal partners all took part in the sweep, the department said.
The effort grew out of the Orleans Metro ICAC Task Force announced this winter, a regional lab Attorney General Liz Murrill unveiled in February to centralize digital forensics and triage incoming cybertips, as reported by Fox 8 and WDSU.
Arrests and alleged offenses
The department’s post included an OCR transcript listing people arrested during the sweep, including Carlos Carranza, Cody Ritchey Sr., Connor Westbrook, David Berniard Jr. and Dominic Thompson. Charges in the post include computer-aided solicitation of a minor, indecent behavior with a juvenile and indecent behavior described as grooming. Officials emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges could still be filed. All those arrested are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The sweep follows an ICAC-related arrest in March, when detectives charged a man in a 66-count child sex abuse case.
How the ICAC task force works
Authorities say the Orleans Metro ICAC model is designed to give local partners shared forensic tools and a faster way to move on fresh tips. The ICAC Task Force Program is a nationwide network that helps state and local agencies investigate technology-facilitated crimes against children and triage CyberTips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, according to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Centralizing those resources is intended to speed up investigations while pooling specialized equipment and training across multiple jurisdictions.
Legal implications and next steps
Kenner police say the investigation remains active and are asking anyone with information to contact the department. The May 28 post did not include arraignment dates or bond information for those arrested. According to the post, the listed offenses are felony charges that will be forwarded to prosecutors for review, and either the Attorney General’s office or local district attorneys will decide whether to pursue formal indictments.
Authorities have not released further details on the evidence, saying detectives are still conducting forensic analysis of seized electronic devices.
“This operation demonstrates the unwavering commitment law enforcement agencies across Louisiana and beyond share in protecting children from online predators,” Kenner Police Chief Keith A. Conley said in the department’s post. Officials said the ICAC lab will continue both proactive and reactive operations as it builds regional capacity. Anyone with tips was directed to the Kenner Police Department’s non-emergency line or the online tip options listed in the social media post.
