Former Democratic candidate Carl Sprayberry was among 19 individuals arrested in a major trafficking sting in Georgia, exposing a network of predators targeting children through social media and dating platforms.
Key Insights
- Operation Lights Out, a four-day sting conducted by multiple Georgia law enforcement agencies, resulted in 19 arrests including former Democratic State House candidate Carl Sprayberry
- The suspects face serious charges including trafficking, child exploitation and more
- Authorities confirm no children were harmed during the operation, which targeted individuals using online platforms to arrange illicit encounters with minors
- Officials stress the importance of parental monitoring of children’s online activities to prevent exploitation
Democratic Politician Among Those Arrested in Multi-Agency Sting
The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force successfully executed “Operation Lights Out” between April 25-28, 2025. The four-day enforcement action resulted in the apprehension of 19 individuals, including 32-year-old Carl Sprayberry, a former Democratic candidate for the Georgia State House. Sprayberry had previously run unsuccessfully for Georgia House seats in District 134 in 2020 and District 139 in 2024, losing both races.
The operation specifically targeted individuals engaging in explicit communication with children online and those attempting to arrange meetings with minors. According to authorities, the suspects utilized various social media applications and dating websites to pursue their illicit activities. Law enforcement officials spent months preparing for this operation, demonstrating their commitment to protecting children from online predators.
Carl Sprayberry, a 32-year-old Columbus, Georgia, native and two-time Democratic candidate for the Georgia State House (District 134 in 2020 and District 139 in 2024), was among 19 suspects arrested.
The arrests were part of "Operation Lights Out," a four-day undercover operation…— Jungleball2 (@JungleBall_2) April 30, 2025
Charges Filed Against Multiple Suspects
All 19 individuals arrested during Operation Lights Out face serious charges, including trafficking, child exploitation and more. These charges reflect the gravity of the alleged crimes and the threat these individuals posed to children in the community. The successful operation highlights the effective collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies working to combat child exploitation and trafficking.
“It takes a sick individual to want to take away a right that a child has – and the freedom and the safety and the comfort that a child has – to bring harm to these children,” Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman said.
Law enforcement officials emphasized that while no children were physically harmed during the operation, the threat to the community’s youth was very real. Brian Johnston, GBI Special Agent in Charge, noted that had law enforcement not been operating in an undercover capacity, these same individuals would have been communicating with actual children in the community, discussing acts, arranging meetings, and more.
Officials Urge Parental Vigilance
In the wake of Operation Lights Out, Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman and other law enforcement officials are urging parents to take a more active role in monitoring their children’s online activities. With predators increasingly using digital platforms to target minors, parental oversight has become a crucial line of defense in protecting children from exploitation.
“I can’t stress enough for the parents – please monitor your children and what they do on the computers. 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,” emphasized Sheriff Countryman.
District Attorney Don Kelly emphasized the importance of these operations in protecting children from predators. “An operation like this takes months to prepare. 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,” Kelly stated. The collaboration between multiple agencies reflects the prioritization of child safety within the criminal justice system under President Trump’s administration.
Sources:
- Georgia politician among 19 arrested made in multi-agency human trafficking operation
- Georgia politician among 19 arrested in multi-agency human trafficking operation
- Former Democrat Political Candidate Arrested In Human Trafficking Operation * 100PercentFedUp.com * by Danielle
