Police Nab Former Democrat Candidate in Ongoing Trafficking Case

Hands in handcuffs behind back in dark room.

Former Georgia State House Democratic candidate Carl Sprayberry now finds himself behind bars alongside 18 others following a major trafficking sting operation targeting predators who use social media to prey on children.

Key Takeaways

Carl Sprayberry, 32, a former Democratic candidate for Georgia State House, was among 19 individuals arrested in “Operation Lights Out,” a multi-agency trafficking sting.
The operation, conducted from April 25-28, 2025, targeted individuals using social media and dating websites to solicit illegal interactions with minors.
Suspects face serious charges including trafficking, child exploitation and more.
No children were physically harmed during the operation, which involved the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials urge parents to closely monitor their children’s online activities to protect them from digital predators.

Failed Democrat Politician Caught in Trafficking Sting

The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 19 individuals during a four-day trafficking operation that concluded on April 28, 2025. Among those apprehended was 32-year-old Carl Sprayberry, who previously ran as a Democrat for Georgia House seats in District 134 in 2020 and District 139 in 2024, losing both races. The operation, named “Operation Lights Out,” specifically targeted individuals who used social media applications and dating websites to exploit children, arranging meetings for illicit purposes after engaging in explicit communications online.

The multi-agency effort involved collaboration between the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Charges against the suspects include trafficking, child exploitation and more. Law enforcement officials confirmed that no children were harmed during the operation, as officers worked in undercover capacities to intercept predators before they could reach actual children in the community.

Carl Sprayberry, a 32-year-old Columbus, Georgia, native and two-time Democratic candidate for the Georgia State House (District 134 in 2020 and District 139 in 2024), was among 19 suspects arrested.
The arrests were part of "Operation Lights Out," a four-day undercover operation…

— Jungleball2 (@JungleBall_2) April 30, 2025

Months of Preparation to Protect Children

Officials revealed that the operation required months of careful planning and coordination among multiple agencies. The sting targeted individuals who believed they were communicating with children, arranging to meet for acts, and more. Law enforcement officers posed as minors online to identify and apprehend those seeking to exploit children, demonstrating the intensive resources being dedicated to combating child exploitation under President Trump’s administration.

“An operation like this takes months to prepare. Protecting our children from these kinds of predators is one of the most important things that we can do both as law enforcement and as prosecutors,” stated District Attorney, Don Kelly.

The operation highlights the increasing prevalence of online predation and the sophisticated techniques law enforcement must employ to combat it. Digital platforms continue to serve as hunting grounds for those seeking to exploit minors, making these types of operations crucial for child safety. Officials emphasized that the individuals arrested would have been communicating with actual children in the community had law enforcement not intercepted them first.

Officials Urge Parental Vigilance

Law enforcement leaders made impassioned pleas to parents about the importance of monitoring their children’s online activities. The sheriff’s office stressed that prevention begins at home, with parents taking an active role in understanding who their children communicate with online and what platforms they use. The case underscores how predators can be found in all walks of life, including among those who have sought public office.

“It takes a sick individual to want to take away a right that a child has – and the freedom and the safety and the comfort that a child has – to bring harm to these children,” Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman said.

Sheriff Countryman further emphasized the importance of parental supervision, noting, “I can’t stress enough for the parents – please monitor your children and what they do on the computers. It’s okay to be a nosey parent. Know who they’re speaking with because we’re not going to stop until they stop preying on our kids.” This case serves as a stark reminder that vigilance in the digital age is essential for protecting children from those who would exploit them, regardless of the predator’s public profile or political affiliation.