Carl Sprayberry, a former political candidate from Georgia, has been arrested as part of a major child sex trafficking operation.
According to Breitbart, this law enforcement action involved multiple agencies and focused on individuals engaging in illicit activities with minors online.
Carl Sprayberry, who once sought election for Georgia's State House District 139, found himself in custody facing serious allegations. He had previously attracted attention for violent rhetoric aimed at former President Donald Trump on social platforms like X (previously known as Twitter).
"Operation Lights Out," a multi-agency initiative led by the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, ran from April 24 through April 28, 2025. Its goal was to dismantle networks of individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of minors through online platforms.
The operation culminated in the apprehension of 19 individuals, including Sprayberry. Other notable arrests included Marquise Anderson, Roger Burkes, and Javious Davenport, all charged with human trafficking-related offenses. Each accused allegedly participated in online communications to exploit minors sexually, arranging meetings for sexual purposes or purchasing sex with minors.
Digital platforms like social media sites, messaging apps, and various websites became a battlefield against exploitation during the operation. Predators often use these mediums to contact and manipulate children, demonstrating the substantial risks present in digital communication channels.
During a recent press conference, Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman highlighted the growing concern, emphasizing the critical role of parental vigilance online.
The sheriff issued a stern warning about the dangers these predators pose, resorting to even traveling long distances to commit these heinous acts.
Carl Sprayberry's prior social media posts included direct threats aimed at Donald Trump. He claimed that Trump had committed acts deserving execution as per his interpretation of the Second Amendment, encouraging extreme measures against the former president. These comments were part of his heightened political rhetoric on X.
I want to make a plea with parents to closely monitor your children to ensure they are not communicating with these individuals. These predators will travel from near and far to victimize your children. We take these crimes against children very seriously. It will be our focus to find these predators so they may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The collaborative nature of this operation, featuring 12 law enforcement agencies, showcased the extensive planning and dedication involved in combating such crimes.
It underscores not only the technological savvy required but also the profound need for continuous surveillance and intervention to protect the most vulnerable.
The arrest of Carl Sprayberry serves as a substantial blow to his previous political ambitions and highlights the persistent challenges law enforcement faces in battling sex trafficking. As the investigation continues, further details about the operation and the individuals involved are expected to emerge.
To conclude, "Operation Lights Out" underscores the pervasive risks of online child exploitation and the ongoing efforts to counteract these dangers. It serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences awaiting those who partake in such criminal activities, as well as a call to arms for parents to remain vigilant in monitoring their children's online interactions.
