Eight of 14 individuals arrested in a multi-agency operation concerning attempts to sexually exploit children online are residents of Lexington or Richland counties.

A press release from the Irmo Police Department says the “undercover chat operation” remains ongoing, but that so far, 14 are accused of attempting to sexually exploit children online.

“The operation focused on combating the online-facilitated sexual exploitation of children by utilizing undercover law enforcement officers posing as minors or adults with access to children,” the release read. “Through these proactive investigations, commonly known as ‘traveler’ operations, investigators identified individuals who allegedly attempted to arrange sexual encounters with children they believed to be underage, allowing law enforcement to intervene before an actual child became a victim.”

The following people were arrested, and authorities said additional enforcement action is pending:

• Russ Gooden-Waites, 47, of Columbia has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor.
• Juan Carlos Ramirez Sotelo, 35, of Cayce has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor. An ICE detainer has been issued.
• Brandon A. Sweeper, 40, of Columbia has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor, criminal sexual conduct with a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor in the first degree.
• Dylan Thomas Arms, 33, of Chapin has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor, criminal sexual conduct with a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor.
• Patrick Acree Richardson, 24, of Columbia has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor, criminal sexual conduct with a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor in the first degree.
• Maurice Junior Newman, 33, of Southbridge, Mass., has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
• Dame Diagne, 39, of Sumter, has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
• Corey Weston Jamison, 45, of Orangeburg has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor.
• Eric Donyae Cathey, 37, of Memphis, Tenn., has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor.
• Malik Moore, 29, of Columbia, has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
• Darius Deontre Strother, 28, of Columbia, has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
• Elmer Javier Baquedano Maroquin, 32, of Lexington, has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor, criminal sexual conduct with a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor in the first degree. An ICE detainer has been issued.
• Amos Maurice Pearson, 42, of Anderson, has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
• Antoine Raynard Aiken, 47, of Summerville, has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor.

"Protecting our children remains a top priority," Irmo Police Chief Bobby Dale said in the press release. "These investigations are proactive by design. Our goal is to identify individuals who are seeking to exploit children online and intervene before that child becomes a victim. This operation demonstrates what can be accomplished when agencies work together to keep our communities and our children safe."

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the Laurens Police Department, the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service were involved in the operation.

Anyone with additional information can contact the Irmo Police Department at 803-781-8088 or South Carolina Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.