The Lee County Sheriff's office and multiple agencies across the state have arrested 14 people in the Operation 'Midnight Shadow' child sex sting.

The operation was in coordination with the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children (NCICAC) Task Force.

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Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes and representatives of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation made the announcement on Wednesday.

Fourteen people have been arrested and charged with child exploitation and solicitation of a child by computer charges. Eleven of those arrested were taken into custody in Lee County. One of the men charged is from Las Vegas. 

Arrest and Charges: 

  • Michael Richard Shaw (37), of 918 Gunter Lake Road, Sanford, NC, was arrested and charged with 3 counts of Statutory Sex Offense with a Child by Adult
    • Jerry Allen Smith (52), of 8311 Sheriff Watson Road, Sanford, NC, was arrested and charged with 10 counts of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
      • Aaron Levi Harvey (31), of 1225 Chris Cole Road, Sanford, NC, was arrested and charged with 3 counts of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
        • Kameron DeVaughn Petty (19), of 6730 Deep River Road, Sanford, NC, was arrested and charged with 3 counts of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
          • Gregory Jones (60), of 217 Edgewater Drive, Broadway, NC, was arrested and charged with 10 counts of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
            • Wayne David Morelock (67), of 2341 E Main Street, Apt A, Albemarle, NC, was arrested and charged with 1 count of Solicitation of a Child by Computer to Commit Sex Acts
              • George Worth Watson (67), of 2028 S Hwy 53, La Grange, KY, was arrested and charged with 1 count of Solicitation of a Child by Computer to Commit Sex Acts
                • Christian Cornell Cerrato (24), of 109 W Harrington Avenue, Broadway, NC, was arrested and charged with 1 count of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
                  • Bradley Kevin Lowe (41), of 4458 Parsons Mill Road, Castle Hayne, NC, was arrested and charged with 2 counts of Solicitation of a Child by Computer to Commit Sex Acts
                    • Daniel Ortiz Alvarado (22), of 4842 Buckhorn Road, Sanford, NC, was arrested and charged with 8 counts of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
                      • Bobby Eugene Malone (75), of 7866 Sheriff Watson Road, Sanford, NC, was arrested and charged with 1 count of Solicitation of a Child by Computer to Commit Sex Acts
                        • Francis Osgood Yan (55), of 4600 Vegas Drive, Apt 126, Las Vegas, Nevada, was arrested in Las Vegas and charged with 1 count of Solicitation of a minor by computer, 1 count of Felony attempted statutory rape of a child under 15, 1 count of indecent liberties with a minor, 1 count of attempted statutory sex offense with a child under 15, 3 counts of disseminating harmful material to a minor, and 12 additional charges with Las Vegas PD
                          •  Jadon Michael Anderson (28), of 2830 16th Street NE, Apt 12, Hickory, NC, was arrested in Rockingham County and charged with, 1 count of Solicitation of a minor by computer, 1 count of Felony Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1 count of indecent liberties with a minor, and 1 count of disseminating harmful material to a minor
                            • Christian Guerrero (19), of 208 W Makepeace St, Sanford, NC, was arrested and charged with 2 counts of Felony Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

                              “Protecting children from sexual predators remains one of our highest priorities. These arrests reflect the ongoing commitment of our office, and our local, state and federal partners to identify and remove those who target the most vulnerable members of our community,” Estes said.

                              Law enforcement officers said this was a two-part operation. Investigators went online and posed as children. They also investigated cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's tip line. They said they have seen a massive increase in child exploitation crimes since 2019.

                              In 2019, authorities received around 5,000 cyber tips. By 2025, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said that number exploded to 52,000. 

                              Law enforcement officers said the use of electronics and social media by younger children are attributing to the rise in numbers, and encourage parents to diligently monitor their kids' activities online.