15 people arrested, one child rescued during child exploitation sting in North Texas

Fifteen men were arrested and one child was rescued during a child pornography investigation in North Texas.

From April 10 to April 12, the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted an online predator sting.

The sting, called Operation Atlas, involved investigators from 14 different law enforcement agencies and “their results were nothing short of phenomenal,” said a press release from the Collin County Sheriff’s Department.

One child who investigators believe was being used in the production of child pornography was rescued in Arkansas during the operation.

The 15 suspects arrested are charged with online solicitation of a minor.

Additional arrests are expected as officials examine electronic devices seized from the suspects, officials said.

“These criminals go to great lengths to hide their true identities as they seek to exploit our children using the worldwide web,” Sheriff Jim Skinner said in the release. “The talent level, experience, and dedication of the investigators and analysts who worked on Operation Atlas are extraordinary and their ability to root out these criminals should be commended. There is no way to estimate the number of children saved by their efforts.”

The following agencies participated in the operation: United States Marshal’s Service-Eastern District of Texas, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Child Protective Investigations, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, Allen Police Department, Carrollton Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Farmers Branch Police Department, Irving Police Department and Wylie Police Department.

This story was originally published April 25, 2019 at 6:24 PM.