The following was taken from a press release distributed by the Floyd County Police Department on February 23, 2024:
FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. – As a result of a proactive investigation coordinated by the Floyd County Police Criminal Investigative Division, United States Secret Service, Cobb County Police Department, and Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, three people were arrested and charged with O.C.G.A. 16-12-100, Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007. As the investigation continues, additional charges and arrests are forthcoming.
“Operation Out of the Shadows” was a three-day proactive initiative that took several weeks of planning. The arrestees ranging in age from 22 to 28 were found to be uploading and possessing child sexual abuse material.
Throughout the multi-day operation, investigators executed five search warrants, made 33 contacts, and examined over 15.3TB of data. During this process, it was uncovered that the suspects possessed visual media depicting a minor or a portion of a minor’s body engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Those arrested were: 1. Kody Skyler Hillegeist 2. Matthew Wayne Cronan 3. Charles William Boyd
“The Floyd County Police would like to thank the U.S. Secret Service for providing valuable forensic support during the operation. Their commitment to excellence truly made all the difference, and their invaluable assistance deserves the highest praise.”
The Floyd County Police and assisting agencies would also like to take this opportunity to caution parents and guardians about child exploitation and the importance of monitoring your child’s online activity and to establish guidelines. Today, more than ever, children are spending more time on the internet.
With unlimited opportunities in the online world, the looming threat of exploitation and increased vulnerability for children is also present. In the year 2021 alone, NCMEC’s Cyber Tipline received 29.3 million reports of suspected child exploitation, up from 21.7 million reports in 2020.