A police sting," Operation Boo Da," which included U.S. Marshals Service New Orleans Task Force, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police, found five missing teenage girls and arrested 30 sex offenders.
The operation took place between October and December and was concluded on Christmas Eve 2021. The girls found were between ages 14 to 17.
Despicable Crimes
Of the 30 people who were arrested, 17 were charged with felony sex offender registration violations.
Lorenzo Oliver, a Tier 3 Sex offender, was accused of the first-degree rape of a 12-year-old girl. He was previously arrested for rape in 2013 and forcible rape and sexual battery in 2015. Since then, he became registered as a sex offender for life.
Some Girls Were Runaways
One teenager aged 16 was a runaway. She stole a car and a handgun from a relative and was found among" multiple adults including a strip club dancer."
Sisters, 15 and 16, found in an apartment in Baton Rouge, "maybe the victims of adult(s) felony criminal sexual activities," the US Marshall said in a statement.
A girl, 17, was arrested in Hammond, Louisiana, on human trafficking charges. She was "known to have prior ties to several female runaways from New Orleans as well as ties to organized gang activities."
Extensive Operation
In a statement, the investigation was described with an aim to protect young people and children.
The statement said:
"During Operation Boo Dat over one hundred sex offender compliance checks were also attempted or completed in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes."
"Sex Offender compliance checks require law enforcement officers to go to the sex offender's reported address of residence to verify that the person still lives at the provided address. Often countless hours of follow up investigative work are required during and after a compliance check."
The joined tasks of law enforcement checked over 100 sex offenders, and it included New Orleans Police Department, The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana State Police, and USMS New Orleans Task Force.
Though the first reports suggest that 30 people were arrested, it was later corrected to 17.
