SAVANNAH, GA – The grim landscape of child exploitation saw another dark chapter unfold as two men from Georgia were among nearly 1,700 suspects nabbed in the Department of Justice’s nationwide sweep called ‘Operation Broken Heart’.
Steven Andrew Ross, 29, of Savannah, faces daunting federal charges including Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor and Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity. His charges stem from incidents in Camden and Chatham counties. Meanwhile, Benjamin Ray, 38, of Honea Path, S.C., has been charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Felony Offense Involving a Minor Committed by a Registered Sex Offender for incidents in Chatham County.
Both Ross and Ray are looking at penalties that could see them locked up for life. The sentence for Ray is 20 years to life, while Ross faces a term of 10 years to life. There’s no parole in the federal system, but if released, both men would be under supervised release for five years to life.
“As the perception of sexual exploitation of children shifts from the shadows to the Internet, we must adapt and continue our efforts to find these predators wherever they hide,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We are determined to protect the innocent.”
Operation Broken Heart was a massive effort by the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces spanning April and May. It resulted in 1,700 arrests with more than 18,500 complaints investigated related to technology-facilitated crimes against children.
Attorney General William P. Barr emphasized the gravity of these crimes, “The sexual abuse of children is an affront to our最基本的 values. We must use all the resources at our disposal to bring these predators to justice and protect our children.”
This operation was a collaborative effort between Homeland Security Investigations, the Savannah Police Department, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Groover is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the United States.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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