Sheriff says suspects from across North Alabama are accused of trying to meet children for sex; all are held without bond
By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Fourteen people, nearly all from North Alabama, are charged with trying to sexually exploit children after an undercover operation by the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, WAFF reported Nov. 8.
The multi-day “Operation Fowl Play” involved the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Each suspect is charged with electronic solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and first-degree human trafficking. Some were also found with illegal drugs and firearms, WAFF reported.
“It was brought to our attention that there were some websites out there that were being used for prostitution and other things, and that there were people trafficking children on them,” Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin told WHNT.
All 14 are held without bond pending hearings under Aniah’s Law.
Those charged are Andrew Zipperer, 51, of Athens; Contavious Key, 39, of Courtland; Benjamin Compton, 42, of Trinity; Deron Walker, 46, of Decatur; Fransico Elorza, 24, of Huntsville; Genesis McWhorter, 35, of Athens; Don Smiley Jr., 24, of Athens; Gregory Christian, 26, of Madison; Sergio Aviles, 29, of Athens; Maurice Crouch, 59, of Elkmont; Pierro Chery, 29, of Decatur; Rajdeep Singh, 31, of Madison; Raul Lorenzo, 24, of Birmingham; and Shawn Dudley, 27, of Decatur.
The sheriff’s office has now run five undercover operations and arrested 62 people in its fight against child exploitation, WHNT reported.
“It means one less victim,” McLaughlin said. His warning to predators: “Don’t come to Limestone County. Coming to Limestone County, we’re going to catch you.”
How to report it: McLaughlin urges parents to monitor their children’s online activity. Suspected exploitation of a child can be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.