Online Sex Operation Using Fake Teen Girl Lands 5 Arrests: Police

WOODSTOCK, GA — Five men have been arrested after they arrived at locations to meet and have sex with what they thought was a 16-year-old girl, Woodstock Police said.

Woodstock Police, in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted an operation targeting online predators, the department said in a news release.

During the weeklong undercover online chat operation, the five men arranged to meet at undisclosed locations with someone they each believe was a teenaged girl with whom they would have sex, police said.

Warrants will also be secured for the arrest of additional people as part of the operation. The names of those additional individuals are withheld until the investigation is completed.

Here are the men police arrested:

David Lara, 30, of Canton, was charged with enticing a child to commit an indecent act, criminal attempt of child molestation, and criminal attempt of aggravated child molestation.

Tagboo Nkemakonam Ezenna, 28, of Lithia Springs, was charged with child exploitation, criminal attempt of child molestation, and criminal attempt of enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Ethan Leo Amuer, 20, of Alpharetta, was charged with sexual exploitation of a child, criminal attempt of child molestation, and criminal attempt of sodomy.

Mark Allen Blanton, 57, of Woodstock, was charged with computer child exploitation.

Nicholas Dominguez, 24, of Canton, was charged with computer child exploitation, criminal attempt of child molestation.

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program was created by the Department of Justice to help state and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to the online sexual exploitation of children. It consists of members from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and more than 220 affiliated law enforcement agencies and prosecutorial entities throughout the state.

Citizens are encouraged to use the Cybertip Line, a national reporting mechanism for cases of child sexual exploitation. Reports may be made 24-hours per day, seven days a week online or by calling 1-800-843-5678.