Mooresville Police Department (MPD) 15 charges internet crimes against children as a part of Operation Artemis.

 Operation Artemis

MOORESVILLE, NC – The Mooresville Police Department (MPD) recently brought charges against 15 individuals for internet crimes against children as a part of Operation Artemis. Operation Artemis ran May 28-30, 2024 involving multiple municipal, county, state and federal agencies and is to date the largest child predator operation in MPD’s history. 

Preparation for Operation Artemis began six months prior to May 2024 and involved 19 agencies and 65 personnel from those agencies. Suspects range in age 25-78 with suspects from as far away as Gretna, Virginia. Suspects utilized online platforms including ChatApp, Discord, DoubleList, Facebook, FetLife, Grindr, Mega Personal Ad, Skip the Games, and Sniffies to solicit minors. The minors that the suspects were meeting for sexual activities ranged in age 13-15.

“This operation saved lives of countless children,” said MPD Chief Ron Campurciani.

Mooresville Police Department would like to thank the Department of Homeland Security, United States Secret Service, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina State Highway Patrol Criminal Interdiction Unit, Iredell County Magistrates Office, Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, Belmont Police Department, Davidson Police Department, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Davie County Sheriff’s Office, Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, Huntersville Police Department, Kernersville Police Department, Liberty Police Department, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, and Wake Forest Police Department for their assistance in Operation Artemis. 

Taken into Custody May 28, 2024

Brandon Cassiano, 30 years old, of Mooresville, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Cassiano was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Taken into Custody May 29, 2024

Kenneth Lanning, 78 years old, of Clayton, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing, (F) Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, (F) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Lanning was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $150,000 secured bond.

Joshua Lara, 27 years old, of High Point, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Lara was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Thomas Trickett, 65 years old, of Cornelius, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Trickett was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Dawson Davidson, 25 years old, of Taylorsville, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Dawson was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Taken into Custody May 30, 2024

Paul Corkery, 45 years old, of Concord, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Corkery was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Nien Eya Y, 45 years old, of Charlotte, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing and (F) Soliciting Prostitution of a Minor. Eya Y was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $150,000 secured bond.

Elvin Rodezno Rodriguez, 39 years old, of Charlotte, NC, was charged with (F) Soliciting Prostitution of a Minor. Rodezno Rodriguez was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Michael Smith, 55 years old, of Charlotte, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Smith was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Wilbur Cole III, 28 years old, of Gretna, VA, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Cole was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond.

Aaron Mark Mayhew, 33 years old, of Cherryville, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Mayhew was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Christopher Bell, 29 years old, of Mooresville, NC, was charged with (M) Solicitation of Prostitution. Bell was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $1,500 secured bond.

Eutiquio Chavez, 36 years old, of Concord, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Chavez was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Daniel Yachnin, 28 years old, of Cornelius, NC, was charged with (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer and Appearing. Yachnin was taken into custody and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Outstanding Warrant

MPD has an outstanding warrant for Jose Beristain Solis, 39 years old, of Mooresville, NC, (F) Solicitation of a Child by Computer.