JOINT OPERATION LAST WEEK NETS SIX ARRESTS OF SCAMMERS AND CHILD PREDATORS
Last week the Baxter County Sheriff's Office partnered with other area law enforcement agencies and with Trilogy Media, Inc. in a special operation designed to identify and apprehend scammers and child predators active in this area. Trilogy Media is an organization dedicated to alerting the public about scams and shedding light on scammers through video observation and recording, as well as assisting law enforcement with investigations and apprehensions. The Sheriff's Office has partnered with Trilogy Media in the recent past.
During this special operation, three arrests were made relating to scamming activities and three arrests were made involving sexual predators preying on children.
The first arrest occurred on July 22nd when law enforcement learned that a "money mule" was coming to a bait house in Mountain Home from Hardy, Arkansas to pick up $45,000 cash from a decoy elderly male for a scammer. Surveillance was established throughout the area, and the money mule arrived at the pre-determined location. The money mule met with the undercover at a grocery store parking lot, and the hand-off of the package occurred. The money mule then left the area by vehicle, followed by law enforcement. A traffic stop was initiated on Highway 62 East. The occupant of the vehicle was identified as 73 year old PATTI LYNN DUNLAP of Hardy, Arkansas. She was taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff's Office for interview. DUNLAP told Investigators that she would be allowed to keep $10,000 of the $45,000 for herself in exchange for making the pick-up. She was then transported to the Baxter County Detention Center where she was booked on a charge of:
Theft of Property - Felony
DUNLAP remains in custody in lieu of $50,000 cash bond, and she will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on August 3rd.
Patti Lynn Dunlap
The other two money mule scammers were arrested together the next day, July 23rd, under similar circumstances. Both arrived at a pre-determined location, and the transaction was completed with a hand-over of a package from the decoy victim that purportedly contained $45,000 cash. An Investigator attempted to make an apprehension, but one of the suspects fled on foot and got into a vehicle being driven by his partner. The vehicle sped away, and the box was tossed out the window. A traffic stop was conducted nearby, and both the driver and passenger were taken into custody. They were identified as 47 year old JINBU LIN of Brooklyn, New York and 34 year old JIAMING YU, the driver of the vehicle, also of Brooklyn, New York. They were found to have over $4,000 in cash between the two of them. Approximately two grams of methamphetamine was found in the vehicle as well.
Both JINBU LIN and JIAMING YU were taken into custody and transported to the Detention Center where they were booked as follows:
JINBU LIN charged with:
Theft of Property - Felony
Possession of Controlled Substance - Felony
Fleeing - Felony
Immigration Detainer - Department of Homeland Security/ICE
He is being held without bond due to the Immigration Detainer and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer state charges on August 3rd.
Jinbu Lin
JIAMING YU charged with:
Theft of Property - Felony
Possession of Controlled Substance - Felony
Fleeing - Felony
Immigration Detainer - Department of Homeland Security/ICE
He is also being held without bond due to the Immigration Detainer and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer state charges on August 3rd.
Jiaming Yu
On the same day, July 23rd, a Gassville area man, 44 year old CHRISTOPHER DYSON was arrested after Investigators learned he had initiated contact with a decoy victim who was posing as a 14 year old male on online platforms. DYSON expressed interest in meeting with the purported minor at a local hotel for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. DYSON transmitted photographic images of his face and private area to the purported minor. Surveillance was set up at a Mountain Home hotel where the meeting was set to occur. DYSON went to the designated room at the hotel and was met there by officers and taken into custody. He was transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and booked on a charge of:
Internet Stalking of a Child - Felony
DYSON posted $25,000 bond for pre-trial release. He is scheduled to appear before the Circuit Court to answer on August 3rd.
Christopher J. Dyson
On July 24th, two more men were arrested for similar activities. BRADY DALE TERRY, 40 years old of rural Mountain Home, engaged in online contact with a decoy posing as a 14 year old female. TERRY expressed his desire to have sexual contact with the purported minor and arranged to meet with her. When he arrived at the meeting location, he was greeted by officers who took him into custody. BRADY TERRY was transported to the Detention Center and booked on a charge of:
Internet Stalking of a Child - Felony
TERRY posted $25,000 bond for pre-trial release. He is scheduled to appear before the Circuit Court to answer on August 3rd as well.
Brady D. Terry
The sixth and final arrest took place later the same day, July 24th. TRAVIS LEWIS DOLLINS, 29 years old of Yellville, Arkansas also engaged with online contact with a decoy victim posing as a 14 year old female. He also stated his intent to engage in sexual contact with the minor and made arrangements to meet at the bait house. On his arrival, he was confronted by officers and taken into custody. DOLLINS was taken to the Detention Center and booked on a charge of:
Internet Stalking of a Child - Felony
DOLLINS remains in custody in lieu of $25,000 bond. Along with the others, he will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on August 3rd.
Travis L. Dollins
During this week long operation, it was known that other money mule scammers were in the Mountain Home area but no further encounters were able to be finalized or arranged.
Trilogy Media partnered with the Baxter County Sheriff's Office, Mountain Home Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations for this operation, with assistance also provided by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office and the Sharp County Sheriff's Office. Local law enforcement will continue working together to detect and apprehend scammers and those preying on children.
/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff
