Three suspects were arrested, and a fourth is being sought after an online child sex sting in Hall County.
Last weekend, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and two other law enforcement agencies took part in the sting, dubbed “Operation Good Shepherd.”
During the two-day operation on Jan. 12 and 13, undercover investigators from HCSO, the GBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Floyd County Police Department made dozens of online contacts through social media platforms.
“Four of those who communicated with undercover investigators traveled to a location in Hall County to meet with persons they believed to be under the age of 16 for the purpose of having sex,” says HCSO spokesperson B.J. Williams.
According to Williams, law enforcement officers took three of the suspects into custody on site, while the fourth arrived at the scene and then fled from authorities.
Investigators arrested 38-year-old Dwayne Larry Drake of Hull and charged him with trafficking a person for sexual servitude, sexual exploitation of a minor, and electronic exploitation of a minor. They also took into custody 34-year-old Billy Cason Elder of Watkinsville and 30-year-old Mohammed Sadiq of Winder. Investigators charged both of them with electronic exploitation of a minor.
The fourth suspect, identified as 23-year-old Jaquan Deavonte Clark of Braselton, is wanted for electronic exploitation of a minor. Investigators took out a warrant for his arrest.
Drake, Sadiq, and Elder were booked at the Hall County Jail. Williams says the Operation Good Shepherd investigation remains active.
