Christina Gates Thagard, a former deputy sheriff from Ocala, Florida, was arrested on May 3, 2025, for allegedly robbing TD Bank. Wearing a Jack Skellington hoodie and a medical glove, she demanded $50,000. Thagard fled with over $5,000 but was apprehended within 11 minutes and charged with robbery with a firearm.
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina teacher Tori Montgomery arrested
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina dance teacher Victoria Montgomery was charged with sexual battery of a student.
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Lima, Peru’s Carla Alcedo appears in Miami, Florida federal court
Carla Magaly Alcedo Mendoza, 43, was extradited from Peru to the U.S. for fraud. She allegedly operated call centers from 2013 to 2018, defrauding Spanish-speaking consumers by posing as representatives offering financial aid for English programs. Arrested on March 27, 2023, she faces 18 charges, potentially resulting in 20 years in prison per count.
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LaGrange, Georgia’s Javious Davenport, Greggory Meeks, Jonathan Evans charged with human trafficking
James Ronald "Jim" Arrington, 75, became LaGrange's mayor in 2014. A significant human trafficking operation, Operation Lights Out, took place from April 25-27, 2025, led by the Georgia ICAC Task Force, resulting in 19 arrests, including LaGrange residents, for engaging with minors online. Authorities emphasize the seriousness of these crimes.
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Ontario, Canada’s Muhammed Gwandu subject to ICE detainer
Todd M. Lyons became the acting director of ICE on March 9, 2025. From April 25-27, 2025, Operation Lights Out resulted in the arrest of 19 men, including Muhammed Gwandu, for human trafficking and online exploitation of minors. Multiple agencies collaborated, with a focus on prosecuting these predators.
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Palatine, Illinois’s Gene Melner charged with human trafficking
Gene Melner, a 37-year-old truck driver from Palatine, Illinois, was arrested during Operation Lights Out, a human trafficking sting conducted by various law enforcement agencies in April 2025. He and 18 others were charged with soliciting minors for sexual acts online. Authorities emphasize their commitment to prosecuting such crimes.
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Georgia’s Kevin Edosmwan, Darnell Brooks arrested
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted Operation Lights Out from April 25-27, 2025, targeting online sexual predators involved in human trafficking. Collaborating with multiple law enforcement agencies, 19 men were arrested, including Kevin Obiuyi Edosomwan and Darnell Brooks, both facing serious charges related to child exploitation.
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Phenix City, Alabama’s Hunter Salmi, Jungmok Shin arrested
Eddie Lowe, the first black mayor of Phenix City, Alabama, previously played in the Canadian Football League. In a collaborative effort, the Georgia ICAC Task Force conducted "Operation Lights Out," arresting 19 men involved in online sexual exploitation of minors. Muscogee County Sheriff Gregory Countryman emphasizes the serious nature of these crimes.
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Alabama’s Colton McLamb, Marco Chavez, Marquise Anderson, Galvin Gordey arrested
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation hosted Operation Lights Out from April 25-27, 2025, targeting online sexual predators. Nineteen men were arrested, including six from Alabama, for engaging in explicit conversations with minors and planning in-person meetings for exploitation. Muscogee County Sheriff Gregory Countryman emphasized the seriousness of these crimes against children.
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Audrey Backeberg found 62 years after running away from Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Audrey Jean Backeberg, who went missing in 1962 after accusing her husband of abuse, was found alive in 2025. She had assumed a new identity and remarried, leaving her past behind. Detective Isaac Hanson reopened her case, ultimately locating her through her sister's Ancestry.com account. Audrey expressed happiness and no regrets about her decision.
CONAN Daily 