According to the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, 19 suspects, including a Georgia politician, have been arrested in connection to a multi-agency human trafficking operation.

“It takes a sick individual to want to take away a right that a child has – and the freedom and the safety and the comfort that a child has – to bring harm to these children,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman.

Officials say 32-year-old Carl Sprayberry and 18 other suspects are behind bars after a 4-day operation, from April 25 – April 28, focused on individuals engaging in sexually explicit communication with children on the internet, who arranged to engage in sex with a child, and to travel for the purpose of having sex. Sprayberry ran for District 139 in November 2024′s election.

The other individuals have been arrested and are charged with the following:

Isael Alvarez, age 43, of Columbus, charged with Human Trafficking and subject to an ICE Detainer; Occupation: Unknown
Marquise Anderson, age 37, of Seale, Alabama, charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Truck Driver
Darnell Brooks, age 40, of Box Springs, charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Laborer
Roger Burkes, age 62, of Columbus, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007, Occupation: Aircraft Inspector
Javious Davenport, age 30, of LaGrange, charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Forklift Operator
Kevin Edosmwan, age 38, of Atlanta charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007, Occupation: HVAC Technician
Jonathan Evans, age 46, of LaGrange, charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Sanitation Worker
Galvin Latrell Gordey, age 44, of Pittsview charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Sanitation Worker
Muhammed Gwandu, age 68, of Ontario, Canada, charged with Human Trafficking and subject to an ICE Detainer, Occupation: Unknown
Gene Melner, age 37, of Palatine, Illinois, charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Truck Driver
Greggory Corbitt Meeks, age 45, of LaGrange, charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Delivery Driver
Colton Lee McLamb, age 23, of Valley, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007, Occupation: Forklift Operator
Zidarius Poole, age 21, of Columbus, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007, Occupation: Unemployed
Hunter Salmi, age 22, of Phenix City, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007, Occupation: Mechanic
Marco Antonio Santos Chavez, age 30, of Fort Payne, Alabama, charged with Human Trafficking and subject to an ICE Detainer, Occupation: Painter
Anthony Seldon, age 34, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, Reckless Driving, and Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers, Occupation: Janitor
Cameron Shelley, age 25, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Truck Driver
Jungmok Shin, age 33, of Phenix City, Alabama, charged with Human Trafficking, Occupation: Engineer

Suspects listed from left to right: Isael Alvarez, Marquise Anderson, Darnell Brooks, Roger Burkes, Javious Davenport, Kevin Edosmwan, Jonathan Evans, Galvin Latrell Gordey, Muhammed Gwandu, Gene Melner, Greggory Corbitt Meeks, Colton Lee McLamb, Zidarius Poole, Hunter Salmi, Marco Antonio Santos Chavez, Anthony Seldon, Cameron Shelley, Jungmok Shin, Carl Sprayberry(Source: Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office)

According to the MCSO, this operation targeted those willing to exploit children by purchasing sex with a minor. Officials say boys and girls were targeted through social media apps and dating websites. Authorities confirmed no children have been harmed.

“There were no children at harm at all in this,” said Brian Johnston, GBI Special Agent in Charge. “…except for the fact that had we not been there as law enforcement working in an undercover capacity, these very same perpetrators that were arrested would have been talking to our children in our community and they would have been talking about sexual acts and meeting up for sexual acts and exchanging pornography.”

“An operation like this takes months to prepare,” said District Attorney, Don Kelly. “Protecting our children from these kinds of predators is one of the most important things that we can do both as law enforcement and as prosecutors.”

Officials with the MCSO encourage parents to monitor their children while using social media.

“I can’t stress enough for the parents – please monitor your children and what they do on the computers,” emphasized Sheriff Countryman. “It’s okay to be a nosey parent. Know who they’re speaking with because we’re not going to stop until they stop preying on our kids.”