Nashville, TN (WOKI) Ten people are facing felony charges after more than a dozen victims are identified in a large-scale operation to target child exploitation and sextortion in Tennessee.
From October through December, the TBI conducted “Operation Autumn Shield,” resulting in 19 victims being identified and 10 people being arrested on various internet crimes against children.
The operation included an instance where a suspect was using AI technology to turn an image of his minor daughter into a nude photograph which he then shared online.
An online extremist group called “101″ was also identified to be founded by a 14-year-old male. The group “extorts minors into self-harm and producing child sexual abuse material,” the TBI said.
TBI officials added that “most of the victims were on social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.”
The TBI arrested the following:
- Michael Houston Williford (DOB 11/18/1985), Sequatchie County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
- Joshua James Long (DOB 08/10/1977), Marion County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
- Rory Cullen Frerichs (DOB 02/01/2002), Polk County, one Count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
- Rodney W. Griffin (DOB 05/02/1996), Pickett County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
- Stephen Thomas Dyer (DOB 10/09/1996), Lawrence County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
- Brandon Gene Collier (DOB 03/31/1989), Henry County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
- Juvenile, 16 years old, Gibson County, one count Incest, one count Rape of a Child, one count Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, one count Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
- Anthony Loughton Spicer (DOB 03/17/1965), Robertson County, three counts Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
- Wade Ellis Williams (DOB 06/20/1973), Pickett County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
- Cody Baird (DOB 01/30/2003), Cannon County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, one count Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
TBI agents are still working to identify and locate eight more children who are believed to be victims of sextortion. TBI reports the victim’s ages are between 12-17 years old.
More arrests are expected as the investigation continues into seized electronic devices.
Anyone with information about these cases or others of the same nature is asked to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678.
