25-Year-Old Northeast Georgian Arrested in Long-Term Child Exploitation Investigation
CLERMONT, GA — A 25-year-old Clermont man was arrested on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, following a multi-agency investigation into the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Justin Jeffrey Edge faces two counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children after a digital trail led investigators to his location in Lumpkin County.
The almost 2-year-old investigation was spearheaded by the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit, which operates as part of the broader Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Investigation Origins
The case originated in June 2024 after the Hall County Sheriff’s Office received a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). These reports are typically triggered by automated service provider detections of illegal content being uploaded or shared online.
Following the NCMEC referral, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office requested technical assistance from the GBI to trace the digital activity. The nearly two-year investigation culminated this month when Edge was located and taken into custody at the Lumpkin County Department of Community Supervision Office.
Multi-Agency Cooperation
Edge was transported and booked into the White County Jail. The GBI credited several agencies for their assistance in the case, including:
- Hall County Sheriff’s Office
- Georgia Department of Community Supervision
- Dahlonega Police Department
The GBI’s CEACC Unit continues to review digital evidence seized during the arrest to determine the scope of the distribution.
