MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – More than 20 people were charged and 19 children who had been sexually abused or exploited were rescued during a months-long operation targeting the distribution of child sexual abuse materials on the internet, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
A total of 28 people from 17 states were charged with crimes related to the sexual exploitation of children.
Recommended Videos
Over the last 12 months, detectives with the Montgomery County division of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force monitored chat groups on a popular social media app. The suspects were identified as participants in various group chats dedicated to distributing child sexual abuse material. Authorities said most of the suspects posted illicit images to the groups, and some of them were deemed administrators of the groups and controlled who could access the groups.
Utilizing advanced investigative techniques, detectives were able to identify and locate the individuals involved, even though they were from other states. Detectives worked with authorities in those states to arrest the suspects.
Operation: Hydra was spearheaded by the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, along with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. The operation was supported by Montgomery County Constables’ Offices Precinct 2, Precinct 3, Precinct 4 and Precinct 5, the Conroe Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshalls Service, and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.