Eleven people in jail in sting operation targeting child sex offenders in Montgomery County

Nearly a dozen men are under arrest after authorities say they deliberately recruited children for sex.

Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham announced the arrests Monday following last week's two-day operation.

Among those charged was an Alabama police officer. ALEA officials announced that he had resigned.

The operation was performed on Thursday and Friday at an undisclosed hotel in the Montgomery area.

The U.S. Marshals Service, ALEA, Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, Montgomery Police Department and Covenant Rescue Group assisted in the operation.

“It's not about us talking to the people who live here. We're talking to the people who come here and want to exploit our young people,” Cunningham said. “We in law enforcement are fed up with it and we're putting a stop to it.”

“We will not allow you to do this to young people,” the sheriff said.

Deputy Police Chief Wesley Richerson said the operation was targeting individuals who were soliciting people online and agreeing to engage in illicit sexual acts with people they believed to be minors, but when they showed up, they were met by law enforcement investigators.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said the suspects face up to life in prison if convicted.

“The seriousness of the situation is unbelievable,” Bailey said. “When you think about it, we are grown men going to hotels to have sex with children.”

“This should disgust all of us,” he said. “Each of them faces a life sentence in prison, and my goal is to make sure these people take their last breath in the Alabama Department of Corrections.”

A similar operation last year in Montgomery County resulted in 15 arrests, but the sheriff said the case is ongoing.

“If we didn't get you this time, we'll get you next time,” Cunningham said.

The following individuals were arrested for attempted first-degree human trafficking, electronic contact with a child, and traveling to meet a child for an illicit sex act:

– Dai Xing Chen, 45, of New Albany, NY

– Subin Choi, 34, from Atlanta

– James Clifford Grier, 44, Montgomery

– Michael Lynn Hester, 54, Montgomery

– James LeGregory McGhee, 47, Montgomery

– William Robert Ogburn Jr., 44, Montgomery

– Ryan Christian Rhodes, 26, Tallassee. He was also charged with resisting arrest.

– Justin Gregory Tomberlin, 36, Deathsville

– Joseph Carroll Vasseur III, 38, Opelousa, Louisiana

– Owen Delma Walker Jr., 57, Montgomery

– Qu'Darrius D'arcy Ja'Quan White, 24, Montgomery