A Richland Parish man has been arrested following an investigation into online child exploitation involving fake social media accounts, authorities said.
The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office, working with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, received a tip on March 25 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding possible child sexual exploitation.
The tip involved an Instagram account believed to belong to a 16-year-old male in Richland Parish who was reportedly sending explicit images.
During the investigation, authorities determined the account was fictitious. Investigators identified the individual behind the account as Bryson James-Simms, 20, of Richland Parish.
According to authorities, James-Simms created multiple fake social media profiles posing as a teenage boy and communicated with underage females across the United States, exchanging explicit photos and messages.
On April 23, James-Simms was taken into custody.
A search warrant was executed, and investigators said evidence obtained during the search linked him to the crimes.
He was booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center on the following charges:
• Two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile (RS 14:81);
• Four counts of pornography involving juveniles (RS 14:81.1); and
• Two counts of computer-aided solicitation of a minor (RS 14:81.3).
Bond was set at $750,000.
“The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office is proud to be part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force,” Sheriff Neal Harwell said. “We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General for their partnership and continued efforts in protecting our children.”
