A months-long Texas operation yielded over two dozen arrests for alleged sexual exploitation of children and 19 such children being saved, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office announced this week.
The sting — called “Operation Hydra” — resulted in the arrest of 28 people in 17 different states, a press release from the office said.
Detectives from the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force had spent the last 12 months monitoring group chats from a popular social media app to identify suspects.
The group messages were “dedicated to distributing child sexual abuse material,” and many of the individuals arrested allegedly sent illicit “images to the groups.” Some of those detained were allegedly administrators of these groups and were able to control who was allowed into the chats.
Because the materials allegedly depicting the sexual abuse of children were being distributed by people across multiple states, a plethora of law enforcement agencies worked together to make the arrests.
Once suspects had been identified, Houston detectives collaborated with authorities in the jurisdictions where suspects lived to arrest them.
“Heroes aren’t only in movies,” said Assistant District Attorney Chris Seufert. “Right here in Montgomery County, real-life heroes are tirelessly fighting for our children’s safety. To those who harm the innocent, beware — we will do whatever it takes to find those who harm the innocent.”
Operation Hydra was led by the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
The two offices also received support from precincts 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Montgomery County Constable’s Office, the Conroe Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Operation Hydra’s multi-state scope “underscore[s] the fact that such crimes often cross jurisdictional boundaries, spanning counties, states, and even countries,” the press release noted.
“The Internet allows child predators access and abuse children worldwide,” said District Attorney Brett Ligon. “My message to child abusers is clear: I don’t care where you are. If you make these images available in my county or put children at risk, we will find you, and you will face justice.”
