A former Democrat candidate for the Georgia State House was arrested in connection to a multi-agency human trafficking operation.

Carl Sprayberry, 32, was among 19 individuals arrested in the sting.

Two-time Democratic Georgia House candidate arrested in connection with human trafficking sting https://t.co/bblNGM9h1w

— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) April 30, 2025

Per Just the News:

Carl Sprayberry, a 32-year-old from Columbus, Georgia, previously ran for separate Georgia House seats currently held by Republicans, District 134 in 2020 and District 139 in 2024. He lost both races.

The goal of the operation, dubbed “Operation Lights Out,” was to “identify persons who engage in sexually explicit communication with children on the Internet, arrange to engage in a sex act with the child, and then travel to meet the child for the purpose of having sex,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. The bureau worked in tandem with the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office on the operation.

Sprayberry and 18 other suspects were arrested by the Muscogee Sheriff in connection with the operation and charged with various crimes ranging from human trafficking to child pornography crimes.

The GBI joined the Muscogee Co SO, the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit DA, & the Army Criminal Investigative Division to give an update on “Operation Lights Out,” a multi-agency investigation that targeted on-line sexual predators & led to 19 arrests.

🔗: https://t.co/7bKT2uSzFY pic.twitter.com/TFJRyZHfQ2

— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) April 30, 2025

WTVM reports:

According to the MCSO, this operation targeted those willing to exploit children by purchasing sex with a minor. Officials say boys and girls were targeted through social media apps and dating websites. Authorities confirmed no children have been harmed.

“There were no children at harm at all in this,” said Brian Johnston, GBI Special Agent in Charge. “…except for the fact that had we not been there as law enforcement working in an undercover capacity, these very same perpetrators that were arrested would have been talking to our children in our community and they would have been talking about sexual acts and meeting up for sexual acts and exchanging pornography.”

“An operation like this takes months to prepare,” said District Attorney, Don Kelly. “Protecting our children from these kinds of predators is one of the most important things that we can do both as law enforcement and as prosecutors.”

Officials with the MCSO encourage parents to monitor their children while using social media.

“I can’t stress enough for the parents – please monitor your children and what they do on the computers,” emphasized Sheriff Countryman. “It’s okay to be a nosey parent. Know who they’re speaking with because we’re not going to stop until they stop preying on our kids.”