Lorain man arrested in nationwide child sex abuse bust

A Lorain man was one of nearly 300 people arrested nationwide in a massive federal investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation, the U.S. Department of justice announced Tuesday. Tevon Hunter, 30, was arrested Dec. 2 and charged as a part of Operation Relentless Justice, a nationwide investigation into child sexual abuse and child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, carried out by the Justice Department and FBI. According to the department, 205 alleged child victims were located and 293 accused child sexual abusers were arrested through the investigation. Hunter has been charged in the U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio with receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and transportation of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Both charges are felonies that carry a prison sentence of 5 to 20 years on first offense, and 15 to 40 years on second offense, according to Cornell Law School. Hunter has no past convictions in Lorain County Common Pleas Court records, and is out on bond pending the results of a home detention assessment, federal court records said. While on bond, he is barred from using the internet or making contact with minors. "There is no place in our communities for those who prey on children," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Manganaro of the FBI Cleveland Division in a release. "Through close collaboration with the USAO and our law enforcement partners, we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring sexual predators are brought to justice." Two other Northeast Ohio men were charged in the Northern District court in relation to Relentless Justice. Jeremy Miller, 34, of Maple Heights was charged with receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, possession of child pornography and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. At least one image involved in the alleged offense involved a prepubescent minor younger than 12. Anthony Hayes Jr, 44, of Maple Heights was charged with receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child pornography. At least one image involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor younger than 12. "Protecting children from sexual predators is one of our office's highest priorities," U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio said in a release. "We will use all legal tools available to pursue, arrest, and aggressively prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit or harm a child. We are grateful to the FBI Cleveland Division for their incredible work to find those who perpetuate these atrocious behaviors." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.