Augusta, GA – A major law enforcement operation aimed at combating child exploitation across Georgia has resulted in the arrest of 17 individuals. The operation, dubbed Operation Byte Down, was coordinated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in collaboration with 33 other agencies, including members of the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

According to the GBI, Operation Byte Down was part of a statewide effort to dismantle technology-facilitated crimes against children. The operation focused on identifying individuals involved in the possession, distribution, and production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), commonly known as child pornography, and those attempting to exploit children online.

During the investigation, authorities identified 13 children living in households where online child sexual exploitation was taking place. Additionally, one individual arrested in the operation confessed to prior or current hands-on sexual offenses against a child.

The following individuals were arrested and charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children and related offenses:

• Kong Hon Yim, 63, Duluth, GA – Gwinnett County Jail
• Ezequiel Ortiz, 30, Duluth, GA – Gwinnett County Jail
• Jianglin Meng, 26, Norcross, GA – Gwinnett County Jail
• Morgan Albright, 18, Winder, GA – Barrow County Jail
• Steven Michael Yanizeski, 28, Evans, GA – Columbia County Jail
• Chaunansheng Fu, 28, Doraville, GA – DeKalb County Jail
• Steven Ray Mendenhall, 53, Macon, GA – Bibb County Jail
• Elvis Beltran Pineda, 25, Alpharetta, GA – Forsyth County Jail
• Richard Jason Lowery, 43, Augusta, GA – Richmond County Jail
• Patrick Dulebohn, 43, Savannah, GA – Chatham County Jail
• Dennis Farmer, 65, Tifton, GA – Tift County Jail
• Christian Havanki, 29, Pooler, GA – Chatham County Jail
• Thomas Walker, 37, Helen, GA – White County Jail
• Derrick Long, 25, Kingsland, GA – Camden County Jail
• Jonathan Sells, 39, Cleveland, GA – White County Jail
• Todd Shelton, 61, Acworth, GA – Cherokee County Jail
• Timothy Grimsley, 36, Tifton, GA – Tift County Jail

The operation, which involved months of preparation, included both proactive and reactive investigations. Proactive investigations focused on identifying users sharing CSAM via peer-to-peer networks, as well as conducting undercover chat investigations targeting individuals who attempt to meet with minors for illicit purposes. Reactive efforts were based on CyberTips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which provided leads on individuals involved in the possession, distribution, or creation of CSAM.

Throughout the operation, law enforcement executed 30 residential search warrants across Georgia. These searches resulted in the seizure of 361 electronic devices, including cell phones, tablets, computers, hard drives, and other data storage devices. Digital forensic investigators reviewed 137 devices on-site. Further analysis of these devices could lead to additional arrests, according to the GBI.

“The success of this operation underscores the commitment of law enforcement to protect children from online predators and prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material,” said the GBI in a statement. “The Georgia ICAC Task Force will continue to work relentlessly to track down those who exploit children for their own gain.”

The Georgia ICAC Task Force, housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, has been instrumental in tackling internet crimes against children. The program, initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice, was created to address the rising use of the internet by children and teens, the growing amount of CSAM, and the increasing number of online predators attempting to exploit minors.

The GBI is urging anyone with information regarding child exploitation to contact the Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or report it via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.

As part of the ongoing investigation, further arrests and the identification of additional victims remain possible as the forensic analysis of the seized devices continues.