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27 Ohio men arrested in online sex sting

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — Investigators arrested 27 men in Ohio who thought they were having sexually explicit conversations with children as part of an online sting.

The defendants, aged 21-to 61- years old, expressed interest in sexual activity and sent pictures of their genitalia to undercover officers posing as children during the four-day operation, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Mike O’Malley said.

The contact was initiated through popular social media applications. Following the conversation, the suspect would travel to a pre-arranged location, a vacant house, in order to have sex with who they expected to be a child. Some of the defendants were in possession of firearms, condoms and drugs.

“As we have seen the number of cybertips dramatically increase this year, it is clear that online predators remain a serious threat to our children,” O’Malley said in a statement. “Hopefully the success of yet another operation serves as a stern warning to offenders that you will be found, you will be arrested, and you will be prosecuted.”

Initial charges filed against the defendants include attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, importuning and possessing criminal tools, prosecutors said.