In a concerted effort to tackle online child exploitation and sextortion, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has apprehended ten individuals following a three-month investigation. This operation not only led to the arrests but also uncovered more than a dozen children who had fallen victim to these heinous acts. The collaborative effort involved local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across Tennessee, as well as support from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
As the investigation continues, agents are actively seeking to locate and identify eight additional children who have been targeted. The victims, aged between 12 and 17, were predominantly engaged on popular social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. Notably, these platforms were instrumental in submitting the initial reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which played a crucial role in the operation.
The investigation revealed that the perpetrator had created new sexual exploitation content and shared it on social media, which ultimately facilitated the identification and rescue of five out of the 19 juvenile victims involved. Among those arrested is Stephen Thomas Dyer from Lawrence County, who faces charges related to the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The ongoing efforts by law enforcement highlight the critical need for vigilance and action against online threats to children.