Six Men Arrested in Nationwide Sting Operation on Child Exploitation Charges
- BTW21
- Feb 23
- 3 min read
BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. — Six men from across the country are facing serious sex crime charges after an undercover sting operation, “Operation Anvil Strike,” was conducted by law enforcement agencies across Central Virginia.
The coordinated effort involved local, state, and federal agencies, including the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, to crack down on child exploitation.
The sting operation, which spanned multiple states, targeted individuals attempting to exploit children online.
Authorities say the operation successfully identified offenders from across the nation, resulting in arrests and charges for a range of child sexual exploitation offenses.
Capt. Anders of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) explained that while local authorities are focused on their own communities, the internet allows offenders to connect with victims anywhere in the world, making these types of crimes a nationwide issue.
"Through their investigation, they identified those that were looking to engage in sexual exploitation of children," he said. "Whether it's your town, county, state, or even another country, you don't know who you're communicating with online."
The BCSO, working alongside ICAC, leveraged resources from law enforcement agencies across the country to locate and arrest suspects.
These agencies cooperated to execute search warrants and arrest individuals involved in online child exploitation, even when the offenders were located outside of Virginia.
Capt. Anders stressed the growing threat of child sexual exploitation online, noting that in the past year alone, ICAC received over 10,600 cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
"Parents need to be vigilant about their children's online activity. The key is ongoing communication and education on internet safety," Anders said, urging parents to start discussions about online dangers at an early age.
Details on the Arrests:
Several men arrested in the sting will be prosecuted in their home states, while others may face charges in Virginia.
The charges range from the possession and distribution of child pornography to attempting to entice minors through online communication. A breakdown of the key arrests includes:
Parker, a registered sex offender, was arrested and extradited to Bedford, Virginia, on charges related to child pornography, including multiple counts of possessing and distributing child porn.
Frazier, arrested in Georgia with the help of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation ICAC Task Force, faces a total of 27 felony and misdemeanor charges, including sexual exploitation of a child and furnishing obscene materials to a minor.
Gipson, arrested in Missouri and extradited back to Bedford, faces charges for using communications systems to facilitate offenses involving children, with both first and second offenses.
Roman, a former member of the Miramar Fire Department in Florida, faces multiple felony charges in Florida for transmitting harmful material to minors through electronic devices.
Angelina, arrested by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force and extradited back to Virginia, faces charges for using communication systems to facilitate child exploitation.
Revels, currently under investigation in South Carolina and awaiting extradition to Bedford, faces charges for using communication systems to facilitate child offenses.
As the investigation continues, local authorities are collaborating with their counterparts across the U.S. to ensure these offenders are held accountable. "In some states, the penalties might not be as severe as they are here in Virginia," Capt. Anders explained. "We work with the Commonwealth Attorney’s office to determine whether offenders can be extradited to Virginia to serve longer sentences."
The authorities are urging parents and communities to remain vigilant as the online threat to children continues to grow. If anyone suspects their child may be a victim of online sexual exploitation, they are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or reach out to the Southern Virginia ICAC Task Force.
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