Child victims rescued in Oklahoma, Missouri and even Norway

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. – An FBI investigation into a Broken Arrow man leads to the rescue of child exploitation victims and arrests in the U.S. and Norway.

Federal agents allege Cameron Kelly McAbee, 31, was an administrator for a transnational child exploitation chat group. In August, prosecutors charged him in a federal indictment with:

  • child exploitation enterprise;
  • sexual exploitation of a child by a parent;
  • receipt and distribution of child pornography,
  • and possession of child pornography in Indian Country.

As part of the investigation, the FBI and task force partners arrested six people. They also rescued child victims in Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Missouri and Norway.

“Cameron McAbee is alleged to have been an online administrator for a social media group whose criteria for entry was to have a child available to sexually abuse and photograph,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to expose individuals involved in this covert group and identify and rescue child victims.”

“FBI Agents in both Tulsa and Atlanta, along with task force partners discovered, investigated, and ultimately neutralized an international cabal of alleged child predators,” said Alvin M. Winston, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Oklahoma City. “The threat Mr. McAbee and his partners posed to children worldwide was thwarted by the relentless dedication of FBI investigators joining forces with detectives from Tulsa and Broken Arrow police departments. Only through strong police partnerships can law enforcement remain unified and effective in the global fight to bring child predators to justice.”

Child Exploitation Investigation

On July 13, 2021, the FBI discovered an online chat group that shared child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, authorities determined that McAbee was an administrator.

In order to get membership into this chat group, the FBI says an individual had to show photographic proof they had access to a child. Authorities believe this requirement was for the purpose of sharing child sexual abuse material.

Continued access to the group required members to produce and share images and videos of the members sexually abusing children.

On July 24, authorities allege that McAbee posted a “live photo” to the group depicting the sexual abuse of a child.

On July 26, 2021, the FBI linked the administrator account to McAbee and his Broken Arrow address and executed a search warrant at the residence that same day.

McAbee Interview with FBI

According to the Department of Justice Northern District of Oklahoma office, McAbee agreed to an interview with FBI agents. He allegedly confirmed that he held an administrative role in multiple groups. That included one specifically designed for sharing explicit images and videos of children the members had physical access to.

McAbee also told the FBI that he had traded images of child sexual abuse that would be considered child pornography. According to the Department of Justice, that included the sexually explicit “live” image he sent of a child to the online chat group on July 24, 2021.

Defendants arrested as part of the investigation include:

  • Cameron McAbee of Broken Arrow (FBI arrest)
  • Eric McCants of San Antonio, Texas (FBI arrest)
  • Michael McClure of DeFuniak Springs, Florida (FBI arrest)
  • Jeffrey Prowant of Stone County, Missouri (FBI arrest)
  • James Ray Bickerstaff of Siloam Springs, Arkansas (Arkansas arrest)

Law enforcement authorities in Norway arrested an unnamed person. Authorities say they were able to bring child victims to safety. The FBI is still investigating leads in at least four other states related to this case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty,” states the Department of Justice Northern District of Oklahoma office.

The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office (Tulsa Resident Agency), FBI Atlanta Field Office, Broken Arrow Police Department, and Tulsa Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting defendants residing within the Northern District of Oklahoma.

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