According to the Yuba/Sutter/Colusa Appeal Democrat, local and federal law enforcement authorities participated in a coordinated multi-agency sting operation, and arrested 14 suspected sex offenders in Yuba County between July 10 and 12. The operation, a first of its kind in the area, was spearheaded by the Yuba City Police Department in collaboration with the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, demonstrating a significant crackdown on those attempting to exploit minors online.
For three intense days, officers set up a command center at the Comfort Inn Suites in Linda, where a specialized team of approximately 20 undercover operatives engaged in online conversations with potential offenders. Posing as minors under the age of 13, these undercover agents, referred to as “chatters,” infiltrated various social media platforms, waiting for the predators to initiate contact.
Detective Joe Swallow of the Yuba City Police Department explained that the process involved creating deceptive profiles that allowed the offenders to make the first move. “As people make contact with us, we eventually reveal that we are 13. If they decide to stop talking, we don’t pursue them. But those who choose to continue, and if the conversation turns sexual, we let them guide it. Our goal isn’t to entrap but to identify those who are willing to engage in illegal activities,” Swallow said.
However, luring offenders to a physical location proved challenging, given the growing public awareness of sting operations fueled by shows like “To Catch a Predator” and ICAC alerts. Swallow noted that it’s not uncommon for operatives to converse with dozens of individuals, only to have none appear for a meetup.
Despite these challenges, the operation resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals, including Kevin Gipson of Oroville, who allegedly sought to solicit sex from a 10-year-old girl. Although Gipson did not show up for the arranged meeting, law enforcement maintained contact, leading to his later arrest in Sacramento. Alongside Gipson, Kenneth Lorenz of Rio Linda, whom Gipson had allegedly recruited as an accomplice, was also apprehended.
The operation was hailed as a significant success by Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry, who confirmed that 12 of the arrests took place within Yuba County, while Gipson and Lorenz were charged in Sacramento County. Curry emphasized the importance of such operations in preventing actual harm to children, urging anyone who may have been victimized by these individuals to come forward.
“These men are likely to have actual victims somewhere, and we need those victims to speak up,” Curry said. “While no real children were involved in this operation, the threat these predators pose is very real. Let this serve as a clear message: we will continue to conduct these operations, and there is no safe corner of the internet for those who seek to harm our children.”
The operation underscored the growing collaboration between local and federal agencies in combating online child exploitation, sending a strong warning to would-be offenders that law enforcement is vigilant and prepared to act decisively to protect vulnerable minors.
