Although the full story remains sketchy, new details emerge following a public information inquiry made by this news department to the Department of Homeland Security regarding a raid, and arrest, in the community of Goff on December 21st.
At that time a 16-year-old boy was taken into custody on charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and criminal solicitation of a child
The question that arose was why a federal agency was at the helm of the investigation within the jurisdiction of Nemaha County, just days after it was reported that DHS was also working an investigation in Brown County.
Local authorities now indicate it was the same case, but agents were tracking down leads in the suspect's former county of residence.
Gail Montenegro is the public affairs officer for U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Chicago office, which oversees the local area.
In an email statement sent to this news department, Montenegro states that while many details aren't being released due to pending criminal prosecution, it is confirmed that Immigration and Customs, which serves as the law enforcement agency within DHS, worked with agents from Homeland Security Investigations in the execution of the search warrant.
That was done under the national “Operation Predator” initiative, which serves to protect children from sexual predators, including pornographers, child sex traffickers, and those who travel overseas to engage in sex with minors, among others.
However, it is not specified exactly how “Operation Predator” plays into the Nemaha County arrest of the 16-year-old boy, who was transferred to juvenile detention.
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