Update: Gamereactor reached out to Hi-Rez Studios for a comment, and Stew Chisam, CEO and President, had this to say:
"On Monday, February 4th, we learned through local news that Thomas Cheung was arrested in an operation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. At this point, we know only what has been reported in the local news and by local law enforcement, and cannot comment on specifics of Mr. Cheung's case, other than to say that, as of today, Mr. Cheung is no longer employed by Hi-Rez Studios. As a parent, it is difficult to imagine more disturbing allegations than those laid out in the news reports. We commend the efforts of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and other law enforcement to protect our state's children and to send a strong message that the behavior targeted in their Operation Interception will not be tolerated in Georgia."
Original story below.
A new report from VPEsports claims that Hi-Rez employee and streamer Thomas Cheung has been arrested during a sting called Operation Interception, which saw him arrested for "child exploitation" and other offences.
This sting arrested 20 other individuals, as you can see in the official report from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI says the purpose of the sting was to "arrest persons who communicate with children on-line, have sexually explicit conversations, and then travel to meet them for the purpose of having sex. Additionally, the operation targeted those who are willing to exploit children by purchasing sex with a minor." That said, we don't have specific details on Cheung from this document.
"Twenty-four digital devices were seized as evidence and processed during the operation," according to the GBI, which one can only assume includes Cheung's computer.
Rod Breslau also reported on Twitter that his specific offence was "arranging to have sex with a child," but this isn't officially confirmed. What can be confirmed via the Brookhaven police database, however, are the offences of "computer/electronic pornography and child exploitation" as well as the charge of "computer child exploitation online."
Cheung has been at Hi-Rez Studios as a community specialist since November 2018 for Smite, although he has been involved with Paladins since April last year. He has also been a Twitch partner since 2012.