14 men taken into custody in multi-agency undercover chat operation

The Irmo Police Department has reported the arrest of 14 men who are accused of attempting to sexually exploit children online.

In an operation that began in April, undercover law enforcement officers posed as juveniles or adults who had access to children.

Investigators identified men who reportedly attempted to arrange sexual contacts with minors they suspected were underage, prompting law enforcement to intervene.

The following men were arrested or are pending additional enforcement action:

• Russ Gooden-Waites, 47, of Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor.

• Juan Carlos Ramirez Sotelo, 35, of Cayce ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; ICE detainer issued.

• Brandon A. Sweeper, 40, of Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, First Degree.

• Dylan Thomas Arms, 33, of Chapin ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor.

• Patrick Acree Richardson, 24, of Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, First Degree.

• Maurice Junior Newman, 33, of Southbridge, Massachusetts ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

• Dame Diagne, 39, of Sumter ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

• Corey Weston Jamison, 45, of Orangeburg ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor.

• Eric Donyae Cathey, 37, of Memphis, Tennessee ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor.

• Malik Moore, 29, of Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

• Darius Deontre Strother, 28, of Columbia ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

• Elmer Javier Baquedano Maroquin, 32, of Lexington ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, First Degree; ICE detainer issued.

• Amos Maurice Pearson, 42, of Anderson ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

• Antoine Raynard Aiken, 47, of Summerville ‒ Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor.

The following agencies assisted in the investigation:

South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.
Laurens Police Department.
South Carolina Department of Corrections.
Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States Secret Service (USSS).

This investigation is still underway, and officials say no other information will be disclosed at this time.

If you have any information regarding these males, call the Irmo Police Department at (803) 781-8088 or South Carolina Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.