Nine Arrested in Wetumpka in Joint Operation Targeting Child Exploitation
Multiple agencies, Covenant Rescue involved in Op
Nine men are behind bars following a multi‐day sting operation led by the Wetumpka Police Department in cooperation with Covenant Rescue Group and other law enforcement partners.
The following individuals were taken into custody and charged with human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, and electronic solicitation of a child. They are being held without bond at the Elmore County Jail.
- Whitley J. Brown, 32, of Montgomery
- Contravious J. Jackson, 19, of Elmore
- Miguel Tello Lugo, 28, of Opelika
- Tyrone L. Dabney, 31, of Montgomery
- Jacarlo B. Abner, 40, of Montgomery
- Ryan David Wilson, 27, of Atlanta, GA
- Demario Nicholson, 35, of Pine Hill
- Errick B. Smith, 35, of Montgomery
- Willie N. Watts, 37, of Montgomery
Over the course of several days, investigators posed as minors online and engaged with people seeking sexual encounters. According to Wetumpka police, the suspects initiated conversations and believed they were communicating with children.
Once the men arranged in-person meetings for illegal acts, law enforcement moved in. Officers from the Wetumpka Police Department, working with several partner agencies, arrested each suspect as they arrived at the designated meeting locations.
Authorities said the sting was designed to expose individuals attempting to exploit minors through electronic communication. They urged parents and guardians to stay alert to their children’s online activity and to report any signs of possible exploitation to local law enforcement.
The Wetumpka Police Department led the operation with help from the Elmore County District Attorney’s Office, the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Eclectic Police Department. Covenant Rescue Group also played a major role.
“This operation is a critical reminder that the threat of human trafficking and child exploitation is very real.” said Jared Hudson, CEO of Covenant Rescue Group. “We are grateful for the Wetumpka Police Department’s partnership and commitment to protecting the children of Alabama. Working alongside law enforcement is the foundation of what we do at Covenant Rescue Group, and together we are making a tangible impact.”
Hudson emphasized “Our work is only possible because of strong law enforcement partners like the Wetumpka Police Department, and the supporters who back us. It takes all of us working together to fight human trafficking and protect the vulnerable.”
Covenant Rescue Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, partners with law enforcement agencies nationwide to combat human trafficking and child exploitation through operations, training, and awareness initiatives. So far in 2025, CRG has conducted 14 operations with law enforcement that have resulted in 78 arrests - 64 of those arrests were made in Alabama.
For more information about Covenant Rescue Group or to support their mission, visit www.covenantrescue.org.
