Thirty-five suspects face charges after an Orleans Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force operation, according to state officials.
Attorney General Liz Murrill and partner agencies announced the results at the Kenner Police Department, where the local task force operates. Investigators target suspects who prey on children online using an expanding network.
“They don’t care. They are very good at what they do. They prey on children,” Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said about the suspects.
Murrill said that all 35 arrestees are accused of using social media despite being convicted sex offenders, which constitutes a felony offense in Louisiana. First-time offenders face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while repeat offenders face up to 25 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
The suspects communicated with children or undercover agents across a wide array of platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, PlayStation, Xbox, Telegram, Discord, YouTube, Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok, Thread, Fambase, LinkedIn, WhatNot, and Zangi.
“These are people who are in the businesses of being deceptive and manipulative,” Murrill said.
The 35 arrests represent a portion of the activity handled by the Louisiana Internet Crime Task Force this year. The Attorney General’s Office reports handling 46,000 tips, making 600 arrests, and saving 80 children so far this year.
The state task force expanded its footprint from 8 partner agencies, consisting of local police departments and sheriff’s offices, to 83 partner agencies across Louisiana.
“I spent a lot of my time expanding our network and expanding our partners,” Murrill said.
Dillard University Criminologist Dr. Ashraf Esmail said that increased focus on online crimes is a welcome sight as online issues rise.
“That is a positive that they are arresting more because sex crimes are very dangerous,” Esmail said.
Tracking predators is difficult because developers release new messaging applications quickly. ICAC Task Force Commander Chris Masters emphasized the need for platform accountability.
“Those app stores where you download your apps — those guys need to be held more accountable,” Masters said.
Task force leaders are currently in discussions with software distributors regarding user access controls and content. Meanwhile, Murrill pointed to the state’s involvement in a $12 billion lawsuit against Meta this summer, which aims to enforce child protection features on Facebook and Instagram.
“I think that was a good step in the right direction in getting participation,” Murrill said.
Additional litigation involving other social media companies remains active, though officials emphasize that parental guidance remains a critical line of defense.
“You have to teach them that the person you are talking to might not be who they say they are,” Murrill said.
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