Limestone Authorities Net 14 Arrests in Child Exploitation Investigation
By J. Thomas Wade
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
November 9, 2026
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. Three different covert law enforcement operations in Alabama during the past five days has netted almost thirty arrests related to human trafficking and prostitution related charges.
The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office arrested 14 people in a recent online child exploitation investigation that was conducted by several agencies.
The Daphne police along with other law enforcement agencies made a dozen arrests in a sting operation and Clarke County Alabama authorities arrested four people related to an operation targeting prostitution and human trafficking.
In Limestone County, authorities there dubbed their sting “Operation Fowl Play”.
The 14 arrests that included 42 criminal charges ranging from first-degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, to drugs and firearms charges took place over a two-day period, according to a law enforcement spokesperson.
Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin launched The Millstone Project in 2024 to identify and prevent crimes against children. “The Millstone Project was created with one mission: to identify those who prey on children and hold them accountable.”
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Special Operations Team, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit took part in Operation Fowl Play.
“I am extremely proud of our Special Operations Team and the men and women throughout this Sheriff’s Office who make these operations possible,” McLaughlin continued. “This work takes an extraordinary amount of preparation, investigative skill and dedication. I also want to recognize the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and ALEA ICAC for their partnership and commitment to protecting our children.”
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 Couch, 59, of Elkmont, Pierro Chery, 29, of Decatur, Rajdeep Singh, 31, of Madison, Raul Lorenzo, 24, of Birmingham and Shawn Dudley, 27, of Decatur.
They are all being held with no bond until they have an Aniah’s Law hearing.
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