Israel Ibarra-Hinojosa, 30, of Ringgold, Catoosa County, Georgia, United States was arrested during the Operation Masquerade in Forsyth County, Georgia. It was a three-day operation centered on adults accused of preying on juveniles online and soliciting them for sex.
This is the second operation of its kind in Forsyth County. In 2019, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office conducted Operation Just Cause, which led to the arrest of 24 people.
Recently, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office led the Operation Masquerade, a multiagency probe into internet crimes against children. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office and the police department of Alpharetta, Fulton County, Georgia also participated in the operation.
Including Ibarra-Hinojosa, a total of 11 men from Georgia were arrested. The Ringgold resident was charged with illegal solicitation and enticing or seducing a minor.
Warrants were issued against five more people for obscene internet contact with a minor. Their names were not released.
“Endanger our children in Forsyth County and you will find out what jail and no bond looks like,” Forsyth County sheriff Ron Freeman stated. “I am very proud of our Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and appreciate the unwavering support of our partner agencies during this operation.”
Freeman began his career at the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in 1987. Elected to office in 2016, he entered his second term as sheriff in 2021.
CONAN Daily 