Police announce 16 arrests in ‘Operation X-Posed,’ targeting child exploitation

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Mount Pleasant Police said a total of 16 people have been arrested on various charges in connection with the exploitation of children.

A week-long undercover operation dubbed “Operation X-Posed” that specifically sought out those soliciting children between the ages of 12 and 14 for the purposes of sex, Deputy Chief Tyrone Simmons said.

Five people traveled to meet those whom they believed to be underage children, Simmons said. After the operation was conducted, another three also traveled to meet the undercover agents.

“Another eight people have been arrested for charges of criminal solicitation of minors, disseminating obscene material to persons under 18, second-degree sexual exploitation of minors and attempting or promoting prostitution of minors,” he said.

One of the defendants was out of jail on bond for the same charges from the last operation, Simmons said.

Operation X-Posed was a joint effort between Mount Pleasant Police and various law enforcement agencies including the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and law enforcement agencies in Berkeley, Colleton, Beaufort, Georgetown, Marion, and York Counties, Inspector Don Calabrese said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Below is the list of the 16 people and some of the charges they were arrested for.

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