60+ arrested in undercover child exploitation operation in Mississippi

OXFORD, Miss. (WMC) - Federal, state, and local authorities gathered in Oxford to announce the completion of a recent undercover operation targeting child predators Monday afternoon.

The Oxford Police Department hosted the event. OPD was joined by federal prosecutors, including Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, as well as authorities with Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

Officials say that 69 suspects were arrested in the two-week-long “Operation Muddy Waters,” a statewide effort to protect children from sexual exploitation.

The operation concluded last week. Some of the suspects apprehended in the sweep were “individuals in positions of public trust,” and many were “hiding in plain sight,” leaders say.

Charges include sexploitation, solicitation, sex offender registry violations, and distribution of child porn. Dozens of search warrants were served, and numerous electronic devices were seized.

Authorities say the majority of these suspects had prior child sex offenses on their record.

The U.S. Marshals Service and sheriff’s departments in DeSoto, Marshall, Pearl River, Forrest and Harrison Counties also partook in the operation.

Officials say that many cases that surfaced as a result of Operation Muddy Waters are still under investigation.

So far, none of the suspects have been identified.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.