Child exploitation sting in North Alabama nets 9 suspects [Video]

A two-day operation spearheaded by Huntsville Police targeted online child exploitation.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Nine men face nearly 40 criminal charges following a two-day operation targeting child predators in Huntsville. The operation took place on Thursday, Jan. 23, and Friday, Jan. 24, and was a collaborative effort led by the Huntsville Police Department (HPD), in partnership with the Madison County District Attorney’s Office, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, and Covenant Rescue Group.

The operation aimed to identify, investigate, and apprehend individuals exploiting children online. Officials confirmed the following arrests:

Marco Elias, 31, Gulfport, TX
- Two counts of first-degree human trafficking
- Two counts of electronic solicitation of a child
- Two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
Floyd Corey Powell Jr., 31, Harvest, AL
- First-degree human trafficking
- Distributing/transmitting obscene material to a child by an electronic device
- Electronic solicitation of a child
- Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
Michael John Fike, 53, Somerville, AL
- First-degree …

Tags Alliances, Collaboration Networks, Collaborative Approach, Partnership Strategy, Partnership Success