SMITH COUNTY, Texas — Five men have been indicted for online solicitation of a minor in connection with an October 2018 sting operation in Smith County.
According to the Smith County Sheriff's Office, the suspects were arrested when they arrived at an undisclosed location after soliciting sex online with investigators posing as minors.
Those who were indicted on December 20, 2018, according to Smith County judicial records, in connection with the operation are as follows:
- Jamal Demetrius Thames, 28 - Remains in the Smith County Jail on $75,000 bond
- Richard Moore, 57 - Remains in the Smith County Jail on $100,000 bond
- Jeffery Keys, 36, - Remains in the Smith County Jail on $100,000 bond
- Ruben Hernandez-Contreras, 24 - Remains in the Smith County Jail on $75,000 bond
- John Bell, 27 - Remains in the Smith County Jail on $100,000 bond
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the sting including:
- Smith County Sheriff’s Office
- Tyler Police Department
- Longview Police Department
- FBI
- ICE-ERO
- Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division and Highway Patrol Division
