‘Operation Broken Heart’ nets 19 Mississippi child sex offenders

A nationwide two-month effort to arrest and convict child sex offenders has resulted in 19 arrests in Mississippi. Seven people have been convicted, including one from Vicksburg.

William Eugene Wicker, Jr., 41, of Vicksburg, has been sentenced to serve five years on one count of child exploitation.

The U.S. Department of Justice led “Operation Broken Heart,” which included all 61 Internet Crimes Against Children task forces across the country, including the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Task Force.

The joint effort targeted multiple crimes, including suspects who have produced, distributed, received, and/or possessed child pornography; engaged in online enticement for sexual purposes; engaged in sex trafficking of children; and traveled across state lines or to other countries and sexually abused children.

During April and May in Mississippi, the ICAC task force examined over 33 terabytes of electronic media, made 19 arrests, hosted six training courses to approximately 430 law enforcement officers and prosecutors, conducted three public awareness presentations, and led 19 internet safety presentations reaching 2,400 children and adults.

In addition to Wicker, those convicted are:

• Kristina Lynn Crose, 31, of Pass Christian, sentenced to serve nine years in prison on one count of gratification of lust;
• Benjamin Adam McDonald, age 33, of Southaven, sentenced to serve 10 years on one count of possession of child pornography;
• Christian Shows, 25, of Meridian, sentenced to serve eight years on one count of child exploitation for possession of child pornography;
• Mark Randy Magee, 61, of Purvis, sentenced to serve 10 months for sending obscene materials to a juvenile;
• Cody Clines Adkins, 36, of Jackson, sentenced to serve 60 years on six counts of producing and sharing child pornography;
• Kevin Douglas Jenkins, 35, of Pelahatchie, sentenced to serve 21 years and 10 months on one count each of production of child pornography and production of child pornography by a person who has custody of a minor.