Three arrested on child exploitation related charges in Covington

Yasmin Garaad
·1 min read
83

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

COVINGTON, La. (WGNO) — Three men were arrested on child exploitation related charges in Covington on Thursday, April 11.

Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell reported that 74-year-old Wendell Swaithes Jr., 25-year-old Karam Abdalbaqui and 45-year-old Randolph Burge were arrested and charged with crimes related to targeting children for sex.

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Members of Covington Police Department and the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force made the arrest following an undercover operation aimed at finding those using websites and online platforms to meet and engage with minors for sexual activity.

Investigators placed decoy advertisements on websites known to be associated with prostitution and commercial sex and made themselves available on other common mobile dating applications.

The defendants allegedly responded to a location in Covington, intending to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

As a result of the operation, the following people were booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the following charges:

  • Swaithes Jr. is charged with computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with juveniles.

  • Abdalbaqui is charged with computer-aided solicitation of
    a minor and indecent behavior with juveniles.

  • Burge is charged with computer-aided solicitation of a minor, indecent behavior with juveniles and obstruction of justice.

The joint investigation was led by the Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Cyber Crime Unit and hosted by the Covington Police Department, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, the Mandeville Police Department and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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