SAVANNAH, GA: Four men have been federally indicted following a multi-agency sting operation aimed at online predators. The individuals are all facing charges of Attempted Enticement and Inducement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, according to Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. This charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. A conviction also subjects the defendants to lifetime registration as sex offenders, at least five years to life of supervised release after any prison term, and substantial financial penalties.
Steinberg clarified that there is no parole in the federal system. She stated, “As exemplified in Operation Nightfall, the dangers of the internet require the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies in identifying adults who are using online platforms to target children. We will continue our work protecting our most vulnerable citizens.”
The four men indicted on federal charges in Operation Nightfall include Bobby Edwards Crews-Couch, 41, of Pooler, Ga.; Lancaster Graham, 38, of Garden City, Ga.; Clifton Newman, 34, of Savannah; and Henry London Taylor, 69, of Savannah.
It should be noted that criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Operation Nightfall was a proactive undercover child exploitation investigation coordinated by the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit and the Savannah Police Department. They received assistance from multiple state and local law enforcement agencies as well as the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office.
The operation focused on those who communicate online with children with intent to engage in illegal sex acts. Seven individuals were arrested on multiple state charges involving online sexual communications with purported children and attempting to meet a child for illegal sex acts. This included the four federal defendants.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Sherri A. Stephan and Timothy P. Dean, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of Georgia.
For those with information on suspected child sexual exploitation, they can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678 or visit https://report.cybertip.org/.