Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and members of the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announced on Dec. 19 the results of a massive enforcement operation targeting registered sex offenders in violation of Louisiana law, called Operation Access Denied.
This was a coordinated effort between General Murrill’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and more than 30 law enforcement agencies stretching across North Louisiana.
From Nov. 1 to Dec. 1, utilizing databases and resources available to law enforcement and the state sex offender registry, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation agents in collaboration with other agencies identified and arrested 67 previously convicted sex offenders for additional crimes against children. These registered offenders were engaging in unlawful online activity, and through coordinated efforts, arrest warrants were obtained for the individuals which eventually led to the discovery of additional crimes.
Some of the offenders were re-arrested for crimes like first degree rape, computer aided solicitation of a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile, possession of child sexual abuse material, sexual abuse of an animal and other similar disturbing charges.
Arrested in Richland Parish were:
• Quashon M. Starks, 25; for one count of unlawful use of a social networking website on Nov. 3;
• Darren Sanders, 60; for two counts of unlawful use of a social networking website on Nov. 19; and
• Rosevelt Sanders, 52; for one count of unlawful use of a social networking website on Nov. 19.
When Attorney General Liz Murrill assumed office in January of 2024, there were only eight partner agencies across the state as part of our Louisiana ICAC Task Force.
“Today we have over 70 partner agencies on the Task Force, which now receive trainings and leads in their jurisdictions related to the exploitation of children in Louisiana,” she said in announcing the arrests.
Just this year, the Louisiana ICAC Task Force received 26,896 Cybertips, they’ve made 516 arrests, 82 new child victims have been identified, and 64 child victims have been rescued from ongoing abuse.
“This is one of the largest operations conducted in the State of Louisiana targeting registered sex offenders in violation of Louisiana law. This just goes to show that with our current partnerships in the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, there won’t be one place to hide across the State if you’re looking to harm our children. We will leave no stone unturned in doing everything we possibly can to protect the children of Louisiana. Thank you to our Louisiana Bureau of Investigation agents and all our partner agencies for a spectacular job well done. Because of the tremendous success in this operation, we are now looking to bring similar operations to other parts of the State soon,” Murrill said.
