Mississippi News

Accused online predators caught in Operation Catfish

Attorney General Lynn Fitch Friday announced the completion of a week-long cyber crime operation in North Mississippi. 

Known as Operation Catfish, the Attorney General’s Office partnered with Starkville Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi State University Police Department, Columbus Police Department, Tupelo Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to locate individuals online attempting to lure children to meet for sex or ask them to produce child pornography.

“Predators use the anonymity of the Internet to use and abuse children,” said Fitch. “My CyberCrime Division and our law enforcement affiliates in the Mississippi Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force have the training, resources, and commitment to find them before they prey on our children. Each one of these operations helps to make the Internet a safer place for all of us.”

The joint effort has so far led to the arrest of three individuals on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, with investigations still ongoing that may result in additional arrests. 

Bob Bakken

Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.

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