On June 26, Bradley Johnson, a 57-year-old resident of Rogers, Arkansas, was arrested and booked into the Rogers County Detention Center on charges of possession and use of child sexual abuse material. The arrest came following an investigation by local law enforcement and a decoy operation conducted by Gordon Flowers of Predator Poachers.
In an undercover sting using the social media platform Instagram, Flowers had a decoy pose as an 11-year-old girl named Ariel. Through the course of their online interactions, they encountered Bradley Johnson, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but believed to reside in Arkansas. During their conversations, Johnson admitted to possessing and consuming child pornography.
A recording obtained by law enforcement during this operation captured Johnson’s confession at what appeared to be his residence. He acknowledged that child pornographers often use various payment applications such as Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal to buy illicit media. Johnson further disclosed that these individuals distribute the content on file-sharing sites like Dropbox and Megalinks. He went on to state that prices for this illegal material ranged from $25 to over $100.
Johnson’s admission was not his only confession. The recording also revealed that he had made purchases of child pornography approximately ten to twelve times. Law enforcement, now in possession of the evidence, moved quickly to apprehend Johnson and bring him before the courts for formal charges.
The operation conducted by Predator Poachers serves as a reminder to parents, guardians, and law enforcement about the prevalence of child pornography and its distribution on social media platforms. The use of decoy operations and undercover work is an essential tool in fighting against these heinous crimes that exploit innocent children. As this case continues to unfold, authorities encourage anyone with information about suspected child pornography activity or potential predators to contact their local law enforcement agency.