Irmo Police Share Details on the Arrest of 14 Following Multi-Agency Operation

Irmo, SC 07/08/2026 - The Irmo Police Department is announcing the initial results of an ongoing multi-agency undercover chat operation that began in April and led to the arrest of 14 individuals accused of attempting to sexually exploit children online. The operation focused on combating the online-facilitated sexual exploitation of children by utilizing undercover law enforcement officers posing as minors or adults with access to children. Through these proactive investigations, commonly known as "traveler" operations, investigators identified individuals who allegedly attempted to arrange sexual encounters with children they believed to be underage, allowing law enforcement to intervene before an actual child became a victim.

The operation was conducted in partnership with the South Carolina Attorney General's Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Laurens Police Department, South Carolina Department of Corrections, Lexington County Sheriff's Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Secret Service (USSS) "Protecting our children remains a top priority," said Irmo Police Chief Bobby Dale.

"These investigations are proactive by design. Our goal is to identify individuals who are seeking to exploit children online and intervene before that child becomes a victim. This operation demonstrates what can be accomplished when agencies work together to keep our communities and our children safe." As a result of the operation, the following individuals were arrested or are pending additional enforcement action:

• Russ Gooden-Waites, 47, Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor

• Juan Carlos Ramirez Sotelo, 35, Cayce ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; ICE detainer issued

• Brandon A. Sweeper, 40, Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, First Degree July 6, 2026 Media Contact: Ashley Hunter Irmo Police Department Public Information Officer 803-665-3676 or ahunter@mpastrategies.com

• Dylan Thomas Arms, 33, Chapin ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor

• Patrick Acree Richardson, 24, Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, First Degree

• Maurice Junior Newman, 33, Southbridge, Massachusetts ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor

• Dame Diagne, 39, Sumter ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor

• Corey Weston Jamison, 45, Orangeburg ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor

• Eric Donyae Cathey, 37, Memphis, Tennessee ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor

• Malik Moore, 29, Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor

• Darius Deontre Strother, 28, Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor

• Elmer Javier Baquedano Maroquin, 32, Lexington ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, First Degree; ICE detainer issued

• Amos Maurice Pearson, 42, Anderson ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor

• Antoine Raynard Aiken, 47, Summerville ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor Chief Dale emphasized that online child exploitation investigations require extensive coordination and vigilance.

The Irmo Police Department remains committed to proactively investigating crimes against children and encourages parents to remain engaged in their children's online activity. This investigation is ongoing and no further information will be disclosed at this time to protect the integrity of this and future investigations. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Irmo Police Department at (803) 781-8088 or South Carolina Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC