Today Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the completion of a week-long, multi-jurisdictional cybercrime operation, known as Operation Toil and Trouble.
The operation has already led to two arrests on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. In addition, law enforcement served four search warrants, with investigations ongoing that may result in additional arrests.
“Children’s online presence has opened a whole new door for predators to meet and exploit children, and our Cyber Crime Division is proactively working to find and stop predators before they have a chance to do more harm,” said Fitch. “I am grateful for our partners in law enforcement who work closely with my team and generously lend their officers, tools and expertise to protect our children online – not just on this operation, but throughout the year.”
Fitch’s Cyber Crime Division partnered with the Oxford Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control, Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Mississippi to target and locate individuals attempting to lure children they met online for sex or child pornography.
“In addition to serving justice, it is my hope that this operation will serve as an important reminder to families that your children’s personal safety can be compromised under your own roof. Be aware of the risks facing your children online and take the necessary precautions to protect your children,” said Fitch.
The Attorney General’s Office has created materials to help parents and children safely navigate the Internet, and members of the team often speak to school and community groups on this topic. Download their Parents’ Guide to Internet Safety or Safety Tips for Children or contact our office for copies.
The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office manages and operates the Mississippi ICAC Task Force, which was created by the U.S. Department of Justice and works in cooperation with other ICAC Task Forces across the country. From January 1, 2023 to October 23, 2023, the Mississippi ICAC Task Force received 4,032 Cyber Tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which administers the national CyberTipline.
This marks a significant increase over the same period in 2022, during which the Task Force received 2,407 tips.
If you have information about a child being sexually exploited online, please report it to 1-800-843-5678. The hotline is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also make a report online here.
