A multi-agency operation in Nash County, North Carolina, led to the arrest of 16 individuals accused of online actions targeting minors, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) reported. The four-day operation occurred in February in Nashville and engaged more than 150 officers from 13 law enforcement agencies.
Authorities released the names and charges of those arrested. Among them are Aaron Reshon Murphy, 33, charged with solicitation of a child by computer, dissemination of obscenity to a minor, and solicitation of prostitution of a minor. Cody Blasiman, 24, faces charges including two counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of disseminating obscenity to a minor under 13.
Other suspects and their charges include Dawson Matthew Memmel, 21, for solicitation of a child by computer; Dennis Paul Corbett, 87, with two counts of solicitation; and Nezar Ghaleb Ghaleb, 29, facing multiple charges such as attempted statutory rape.
Nashville Police Chief Caleb Shockley emphasized the cooperative nature of the operation, stating, ‘Every one of these agencies came together with one goal — to protect children, and remove dangerous individuals from our communities.’
Participating agencies included local law enforcement from Nash, Edgecombe, Franklin, and Onslow counties, several police departments, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Officials noted that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to address online child exploitation proactively. They advise parents and guardians to monitor their children’s online activities closely and report any suspected exploitation.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may follow.