Louisiana Sheriff’s Office Teams Up With Chris Hansen, Leading to 11 Arrests

Chris Hansen, the legendary journalist known for exposing online predators in To Catch a Predator, has teamed up with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office for a new sting operation that led to the arrest of 11 men. According to WAFB, the three-day operation was part of Hansen's latest show, Take Down with Chris Hansen.

Predators Caught in the Act

Much like Hansen’s previous investigations, the sting involved law enforcement posing as minors online. LPSO says each of the arrested suspects believed they were meeting a 14-year-old.

The individuals arrested come from various backgrounds—including a man in police academy training, a school cafeteria worker, and a Sonic employee. Hansen told WAFB that these cases are not isolated to one area.

“It doesn’t say anything negative about Livingston Parish because these guys came from a lot of different areas,” Hansen explained. “What it says is, nationwide, we continue to have a problem with men targeting children for sexual exploitation.”

Inside the Operation

Hansen’s team used fake social media profiles to engage with suspects. Once an individual confirmed multiple times that they understood they were speaking with a minor, they were given an address where they arrived expecting to meet the child. Instead, they were confronted by law enforcement and Hansen himself.

LPSO Sheriff Jason Ard called the operation an eye-opening experience.

“You think you’ve seen it all, and you haven’t,” Sheriff Ard said. “It’s scary how vulnerable our children are against these online predators.”

The sheriff also noted how quickly some suspects acted. In one case, a man arrived at the sting house in under an hour.

Out of the 11 arrested, three were in the country illegally, according to LPSO. All suspects face charges of indecent behavior with a juvenile, with additional charges possible.

Where to Watch

Livingston Parish’s episode of Take Down with Chris Hansen is already airing on TruBlu, Roku, and YouTube.