JACKSON – The Mississippi Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, operated by the Office of the Mississippi Attorney General, has completed a week-long effort known as “Operation Masked Justice” today. The operation involved the use of online, undercover, and traditional investigative actions to locate individuals attempting to hire children to meet for sex or asking them to produce child pornography.
Operation Masked Justice resulted in the arrest of at least 13 individuals across the State of Mississippi with all charges related to the sexual exploitation or enticement of minors. Law enforcement officers served 21 search warrants in support of the operation, and the Attorney General’s Office secured one indictment and three felony convictions.
The effort was coordinated by the Office of Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Hernando Police Department, Pearl Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Brandon Police Department, Flowood Police Department, Richland Police Department, the Florence Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“I will continue to work with our partners in the Task Force to aggressively pursue justice for victims of child exploitation across the State,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I would like to thank the many law enforcement officers and prosecutors who assisted in this operation for their hard work this week and for their continued dedication to the safety of our children.”
