Eleven individuals, one of whom is a former Alabama state trooper, have been arrested on charges related to child exploitation following a successful two-day undercover operation.
A 26-year-old man from Tallassee, Ryan Christian Rhodes, is facing charges of electronic solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, and resisting arrest, according to reports from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Wesley Richerson, Assistant Chief Deputy of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Rhodes is a former Alabama state trooper. Rhodes, a former senior state trooper, stepped down following his arrest on the charges, according to Lt. Jeremy Burkett, a spokesman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated to carry out the operation, resulting in several arrests. Individuals reportedly utilized various online platforms, including social media, to engage in inappropriate communication with underage individuals.
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Reports indicate that individuals involved in the case come from various locations, including New York, Atlanta, and Louisiana.
Those arrested and charged are:
- Chen Dai Xing, 45, New Albany, N.Y.
- Subin Choi, 34, Atlanta.
- James Clifford Grier, 44, Montgomery.
- Michael Lynn Hester, 54, Montgomery.
- James LeGregory McGhee, 47, Montgomery.
- William Robert Ogburn Jr., 44, Montgomery.
- Ryan Christian Rhodes, 26, Tallassee.
- Justin Gregory Tomberlin, 36, Deatsville.
- Joseph Carroll Vasseur III, 38, Opelousas, La.
- Owen Delma Walker, 57, Montgomery.
- Qu’Darrius D’Arcy Ja’Quan White, 24, Montgomery.
Cunningham referred to the operation as a “sting,” in which individuals believed to be minors were contacted by suspects who then traveled to Montgomery to engage in illegal sexual activities.
According to Richerson, a comparable operation conducted eight months ago resulted in the arrest of 15 individuals on similar charges. District Attorney Daryl Bailey hints at the possibility of future operations. “It is important to emphasize that these individuals were fully grown adults who knowingly engaged in illegal activities involving minors,” he stated.
Rhodes, the former state trooper, is not facing charges related to attempting human trafficking. According to Richerson, the actions he is accused of as part of the operation did not meet the necessary legal requirements for him to be charged with that crime. According to him, he did not receive any special treatment due to his occupation as a law enforcement officer.
