ICE HSI Operation Muddy Waters leads to 70 arrests across Mississippi in coordinated statewide child exploitation and sex offender compliance enforcement

OXFORD, Miss. - ICE Homeland Security Investigations and its federal, state and local law enforcement partners announced the conclusion of Operation Muddy Waters, a coordinated, two-week, statewide enforcement effort targeting child exploitation offenders and previously convicted sex offenders across Mississippi.

The operation resulted in the arrests of 70 individuals for offenses connected to child exploitation, solicitation of children, possession or distribution of child sexual abuse material, and violations involving previously convicted sex offenders.

"Those who choose to hide behind a computer screen to exploit children will not remain hidden," said HSI Gulfport Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Reidell. "Operation Muddy Waters demonstrates HSI's unwavering commitment to protecting children, supporting victims and holding offenders accountable. We will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to bring these crimes to light, pursue those responsible and help prevent further harm."

Operation Muddy Waters generated multiple new child exploitation investigations, including those involving individuals who allegedly traveled across state lines to engage in sexual activity with kids, suspects allegedly involved in the livestreaming of child sexual exploitation, and individuals accused of downloading, sharing or soliciting child sexual abuse material.

The operation also resulted in criminal illegal aliens unlawfully present in the United States who allegedly traveled across state lines to engage in sex with children, as well as individuals holding positions of public trust suspected of possessing child sexual abuse material.

Operation Muddy Waters was conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Marshals Service, sheriff's offices in Marshall, DeSoto, Harrison, Pearl River, and Forrest counties, the Oxford Police Department and other federal, state and local partners.

Anyone with information related to child exploitation is encouraged to contact law enforcement.  Anyone with information related to these investigations is encouraged to call the HSI Tipline at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423). Suspected child sexual exploitation can be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST.