Williamson County Sting Operation Nabs Eight Area Men for Online Child Solicitation
GEORGETOWN, TX — A two-day undercover sting operation in Williamson County has culminated in the arrest of eight Central Texas men who allegedly used online platforms to solicit individuals they believed were underage minors for sexual encounters.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Organized Crime Unit announced the results of the proactive crackdown on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The targeted sweep was conducted on June 18 and 19 in close collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Austin, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division (DPS CID) Austin, and the Hutto Police Department.
Digital Decoys and Multi-Agency Arrests
During the operation, undercover cyber-crime detectives embedded themselves within various digital applications, posing as minors. The detectives interacted with adult users who explicitly negotiated meetings for sexual contact.
Once the suspects arrived at pre-arranged meeting coordinates across Williamson County, they were immediately intercepted and taken into custody by tactical arrest teams.
All eight individuals apprehended have been formally charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Sexual Contact, a third-degree felony under Texas law. Each suspect was transported to the Williamson County Jail, where their bonds were set at $100,000 each.
The Operational Arrest Log
The arrested individuals span multiple communities across the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area:
- Abu Kabir, 38, of Hutto
- Richard Jackson, 31, of Austin
- Araf Nishan, 32, of Round Rock
- Antonio Rodriguez, 47, of Round Rock
- Jacob Hamilton, 60, of Georgetown
- Joe Zapata, 58, of Georgetown
- Deven Carrillo, 33, of Georgetown
- Kwame Obuobi, 36, of Georgetown
Sustained Focus on Internet Predators
WCSO officials confirmed that the investigation remains fluid and ongoing as digital forensics teams begin extracting data from the suspects’ seized electronic devices.
Law enforcement leadership emphasized that partnering across local, state, and federal levels is essential to disrupting the demand network for child exploitation.
“The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting children from online predators and will continue to work alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and apprehend those who seek to victimize minors,” the agency stated in an official release.
