RIVERDALE, Md. — Eighteen men across seven states, including Maryland and Virginia, have been arrested on more than 40 felony charges for internet crimes against children in the area.
The Northern Virginia-Washington, D.C. Internet Crimes Against Children (NOVA-DC ICAC) Task Force announced that 18 people from Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia were convicted and racked up a total of 128 years of active incarceration by the court.
"Each conviction and penitentiary sentence protects our community and our children from some of the worst offenders—those who perpetuate the horrific supply and demand cycle of child sexual abuse materials and those who attempt to meet children for sexual activity," said Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Alycia M.P. Eldridge, Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg.
The charges come after an intensive investigation over the past eight months by a Virginia State Police special agent assigned to the NOVA-DC ICAC.
“This list of individuals needs to be a wakeup call to parents with children, preteens and teenagers,” said Virginia State Police F/Sgt. R.J. Brown, III, NOVA-DC ICAC Task Force supervisor. “The majority of the following individuals conducted their illegal solicitation of minors through social media apps and gaming platforms popular with children."
The following people were charged in the investigation:
- Jeremy Nugent, 43, of Petersburg, Va. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Alfred Friend, 65, of Swanton, Md. with online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Michael Poole, 54, of Chesterfield, Va. with nine counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Ilker Alan, 48, of Loudoun, Va. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Jeffery Edwards Jr., 46, of Northampton, Penn. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Myles Russell Sr., 51, of Leesburg, Va. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Charles George, 52, of Glen Allen, Va. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Jared Lawrence, 29, of Derry, NH with three counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Barry Woody, 60, of Martinsville, Va. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Cody Donelson, 26, of Kingsport, Tenn. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age and two counts of distribution of child sex abuse material
- Benjamin Estes, 36, of Henderson, Tenn. with online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Kevin Pemberton, 39, of Decatur, Tenn. with online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- George Piet, 35, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va. with online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Dale Lore, 30, of Alloway, NJ with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Zachary Magalis, 32, of Woodstock, Va. with online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Jeffrey Levault, 33, of Woodbridge, Va. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Haydn Kamenicky, 20, of Fredericksburg, Va. with online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
- Charles Carr Jr., 49, of Johnson City, Tenn. with two counts of online solicitation of a minor under 15 years of age
The cases were all prosecuted by the Office of the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County Commonwealth’s Attorney. Additional cases and arrests are currently pending.
"Handing over a phone or iPad to your child without any digital safeguards or discussions about what is appropriate and safe usage is the same as handing over your child to any one of these predators,” NOVA-DC ICAC Task Force supervisor said.