Cornelia man among dozens arrested in child exploitation sting

A Cornelia man is among more than two dozen people arrested in a child exploitation sting conducted by law enforcement in Georgia and Alabama.

Operation Southern Impact targeted people who sexually exploit children by using the internet, according to the GBI. A total of 30 people have been arrested, 17 in Georgia.

The Georgia arrests were for crimes related to computer pornography and child exploitation. The GBI says 34-year old Daniel Ridley of Cornelia is among those arrested.

The joint investigation was coordinated by the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It focused on those who possess and distribute child pornography and those who are sexually exploiting children in other ways using the internet.

Operation Southern Impact began approximately three months ago. A total of 54 search warrants were executed in Georgia and Alabama and the arrests were made over two days.

Over the course of the operation, officials say 162 digital devices were examined and 731 digital media and devices were seized as evidence.

The Cornelia Police Department and Habersham County Sheriff’s Office were among the 34 local, state and federal agencies that took part in the operation. The FBI, U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Security were also involved.

The  people arrested in Georgia range in age from 22 to 73. Their occupations include student, engineer, small business owner, store clerk, mechanic and military cybersecurity personnel. They’re identified as follows:

1. David Potts, W/M, Cumming, GA, 61 years of age, retired
2. Tyler Quarles, W/M, Winterville, GA, 24 years of age, store clerk
3. Parker Hoekstra, W/M, Smyrna, GA, 22 years of age, student
4. Robert Peters, W/M, Winston, GA, 73 years of age, retired
5. Kenneth Flowers, W/M, Dallas, GA, 54 years of age, engineer/small business owner
6. Corey Moore, B/M, Savannah, GA, 38 years of age, unemployed
7. Russell Love, Jr., W/M, Swainsboro, GA, 48 years of age, unemployed
8. Kevin Tanner, W/M, Kite, GA, 40 years of age, production line worker
9. Dwight Watson, W/M, Canton, GA, 43 years of age, addiction counseling pastor
10. Jonathan Hurwitz, W/M, Evans, GA, 48 years of age, military cybersecurity personnel
11. Benjamin Brinker, W/M, Lawrenceville, GA, 30 years of age, construction
12. Daniel Ridley, W/M, Cornelia, GA, 34 years of age, fencing company employee
13. Kerry Williams, W/M, Columbus, GA, 56 years of age, mechanic
14. Roger McDonald, W/M, Valdosta, GA, 61 years of age, Registered Nurse
15. Shane Murphy, W/M, Winder, GA, 37 years of age, unemployed
16. Jason Herrin, W/M, of Douglasville, GA, 27 years of age, restaurant employee
17. Erik Nateras, H/M, of Atlanta, GA, 27 years of age, unknown

The Georgia ICAC Task Force is made up of more than 210 agencies and made 244 arrests last year.

This version of the story reflects updated GBI arrest figures