13 Kids Saved From Child Sexploitation in Operation Byte Down

A statewide investigation targeting online child exploitation has led to the arrest of 17 people in Georgia. “Operation Byte Down,” conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, involved 33 law enforcement agencies working to identify and apprehend individuals suspected of sexually exploiting children.

Investigators identified 13 children living in households where online child exploitation was taking place. One of the arrested suspects admitted to committing or having previously committed sexual offenses against a child.

Authorities executed 30 residential search warrants across the state, seizing 361 electronic devices, including computers, hard drives, and cell phones. Law enforcement officials say more arrests are possible as forensic analysis of the seized devices continues.

Here is the list of arrests:

1. Kong Hon Yim, age 63, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
2. Ezequiel Ortiz, age 30, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
3. Jianglin Meng, age 26, of Norcross, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
4. Morgan Albright, age 18, of Winder, Georgia, booked into the Barrow County Jail
5. Steven Michael Yanizeski, age 28, of Evans, Georgia, booked into the Columbia County Jail
6. Chaunansheng Fu, age 28, of Doraville, Georgia, booked into the DeKalb County Jail
7. Steven Ray Mendenhall, age 53, of Macon, Georgia, booked into the Bibb County Jail
8. Elvis Beltran Pineda, age 25, of Alpharetta, Georgia, booked into the Forsyth County Jail
9. Richard Jason Lowery, age 43, of Augusta, Georgia, booked into the Richmond County Jail
10. Patrick Dulebohn, age 43, of Savannah, Georgia, booked into the Chatham County Jail
11. Dennis Farmer, age 65, of Tifton, Georgia, booked into the Tift County Jail
12. Christian Havanki, age 29, of Pooler, Georgia, booked into the Chatham County Jail
13. Thomas Walker, age 37, of Helen, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail
14. Derrick Long, age 25, of Kingsland, Georgia, booked into the Camden County Jail
15. Jonathan Sells, age 39, of Cleveland, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail
16. Todd Shelton, age 61, of Acworth, Georgia, booked into the Cherokee County Jail
17. Timothy Grimsley, age 36, of Tifton, Georgia, booked into the Tift County Jail

The Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which coordinated the effort, focused on both proactive and reactive investigations. The operation targeted individuals sharing child sexual abuse material online and those attempting to meet minors for sexual activity. Officials also followed up on cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

“Operation Byte Down is part of our ongoing effort to protect children and hold offenders accountable,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. “We encourage anyone with information about child exploitation to come forward.”

Anyone with information can contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or submit an anonymous tip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at CyberTipline.org.