LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — An online tip led to a Lee County man’s arrest for child sex crimes, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) said on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The cybertip was submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on July 28, LCSO said. The tip said that child sex abuse material was uploaded from an address in Lee County, officials said.

Following an investigation, LCSO said Smit Patel was arrested and charged with 22 counts of sexual exploitation of children.

Patel was reportedly arrested at his place of employment in Albany. He was then transported to the Lee County Jail.

Patel has since bonded out of jail.

WALB is working to learn more. Stay with us for updates on-air and online.

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