Charles Barreras, a 49-year-old lieutenant commander stationed at Submarine Base Kings Bay in Kingsland, Ga., is headed to federal prison after being caught in a sweeping child sex-trafficking sting targeting adults who use the internet to groom minors. Barreras pleaded guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement and was sentenced to 62 months by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood.
The takedown was part of Operation Do You Know Your Neighbor, a joint cyber operation led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The investigation, which began in 2019, resulted in the indictment of nine men, including Barreras, all accused of seeking out children for sexual exploitation under the guise of online anonymity.
After completing his prison term, Barreras will be placed on 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender for life. There is no parole in the federal system. Authorities made clear that rank and military service offered no immunity: “No matter who you are, even a ranking official in the armed forces, you will be held accountable,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine emphasized the predatory nature of the crime. “As predators attempt to use cyberspace to contact children for evil intentions, our law enforcement partners will remain vigilant in identifying and stopping pedophiles like Barreras,” he said. “Any adult who intends to contact children for illicit purposes should live in fear that their crimes will be uncovered – and like Barreras, they will go to prison.”
Three other defendants from the operation have already been sentenced, while others await trial or have entered guilty pleas. The multi-agency investigation included the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, Kingsland Police Department, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and Savannah Police Department, underscoring the coordinated effort to dismantle online predator networks.
“The sentences that continue to be handed down as a result of this successful multiagency operation should serve as a stern warning,” said NCIS Southeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge Tom Cannizzo. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela Mateo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales, closing another chapter in a relentless crackdown on those who exploit children online.
Related Federal Cases
- Derek Lamar Reddick Gets 235 Months for Child Sex Trafficking · Georgia
- Charlotte Pimp Kenwaniee Vontorian Tate Gets 40 Years for Sex Trafficking · North Carolina
- Michael Peyton Gunn Convicted in Child Sex Trafficking Horror · Texas
- Savannah Grissum, Alonzo Westmoreland Sentenced in Sex Trafficking Case · Georgia
- Naomi Ruth Smith on Trial for Child Sex Trafficking · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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