14 arrested in Limestone County online child exploitation operation

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) - Fourteen people were arrested following a multi-day online child exploitation investigation.

According to the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation, called Operation Fowl Play, targeted people accused of using the internet to contact and exploit children for sexual purposes. Authorities said some suspects also had illegal drugs and firearms.

Each person is charged with electronic solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, and first-degree human trafficking. All are being held without bond pending Aniah’s Law hearings.

Those arrested were:

• Andrew Zipperer, 51, of Athens
• Contavious Key, 39, of Courtland
• Benjamin Compton, 42, of Trinity
• Deron Walker, 46, of Decatur
• Fransico Elorza, 24, of Huntsville
• Genesis McWhorter, 35, of Athens
• Don Smiley Jr., 24, of Athens
• Gregory Christian, 26, of Madison
• Sergio Aviles, 29, of Athens
• Maurice Crouch, 59, of Elkmont
• Pierro Chery, 29, of Decatur
• Rajdeep Singh, 31, of Madison
• Raul Lorenzo, 24, of Birmingham
• Shawn Dudley, 27, of Decatur

The sheriff’s office said its Special Operations Team partnered with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin said the operation was part of the office’s Millstone Project, an initiative launched in February 2024 to address crimes against children.

The sheriff’s office encouraged parents and guardians to stay involved in their children’s online activities and report suspicious behavior.

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