Seventy people across Mississippi were arrested during a two-week Homeland Security Investigations-led operation focused on online child predators and noncompliant sex offenders, officials announced this week.
The arrests included 13 on child exploitation charges and 48 registered sex offenders accused of failing to meet registry requirements. Authorities also seized more than 50 electronic devices, served more than eight search warrants, and secured three immigration detainers. In addition, one child was rescued from an ongoing sextortion scheme.
Homeland Security Investigations led Operation Muddy Waters, which took place from July 20 to July 31. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, the U.S. attorneys for the Northern and Southern districts of Mississippi, as well as more than a dozen additional partner agencies, took part in the statewide crackdown. …