LAS VEGAS, NV - According to reports, thanks to a multi-agency operation targeting child predators online, 17 men have been arrested.
The two-day operation was a joint effort by several detectives and agents from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and others.
On Friday, October 13th, and Saturday, October 14th, undercover agents posed as 13 and 14-year-old juveniles. Once solicited for sex by the adult suspects, a meeting was set up and the suspects were then taken into custody.
The 17 men whom were arrested are listed here: Randy Thomsen, 38; Jazoni Hickman, 20; Siaju Brown, 20; Angel Rivera, 40; Eskipper Monasterio, 36; Daniel Frentzel, 39; Robert Kafaka II, 35; Scott Rotolo, 34; Tanner Castro, 26; Pablo Martinez, 44; Jhon Adajar, 35; Peter Forseth, 64; Andrew Logsdon, 42; Johnathan Adame, 31; Santiago Guzman, 40; Everado Escobedo, 22; and Cristian Valera-Rodriguez, 38.
All men face charges for luring a minor with a computer to engage in sex. In the press release, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department wrote, "The LVMPD would like to remind parents to discuss with their children the dangers of online chats with strangers. Parents are encouraged to routinely monitor their children's activity on social media and other online applications to prevent them from becoming victims of a child sex predator."
According to 8 News Now Investigators, one of the men arrested, Tanner Castro, was reportedly a Las Vegas prosecutor.
Authorities with the Henderson Police Department said that Castro tried to meet an underage girl at a park to have sex in the backseat of his car. Instead, he had actually been communicating with a decoy during the undercover operation.
After his arrest, Castro was terminated from the Clark County District Attorney's Office. District Attorney Steve Wolfson stated that Castro had been employed as a deputy district attorney since September 2nd.
According to police, Castro used Kik with the username "boat666666" and Snapchat with the username "Rogue 96" while communicating during the undercover operation.
Police wrote, "The user later agreed to meet the decoy for sexual contact at a predetermined meeting location. The sexual contact included having sex in the backseat of the subject's car."
Castro later showed up at Whitney Mesa Park to meet who he believed would be an underage girl. Police said that they found a box of condoms in his car.
Castro faces two felony charges, including luring a child with the use of a computer to engage in sexual conduct and statutory sexual seduction.
On Saturday, October 14th, he posted bail and is scheduled to appear in court on November 7th.
Anyone who may have been a victim of any of these subjects or has information about their crimes is urged to contact the LVMPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force by phone at 702-828-3111.
The two-day operation was a joint effort by several detectives and agents from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and others.
On Friday, October 13th, and Saturday, October 14th, undercover agents posed as 13 and 14-year-old juveniles. Once solicited for sex by the adult suspects, a meeting was set up and the suspects were then taken into custody.
The 17 men whom were arrested are listed here: Randy Thomsen, 38; Jazoni Hickman, 20; Siaju Brown, 20; Angel Rivera, 40; Eskipper Monasterio, 36; Daniel Frentzel, 39; Robert Kafaka II, 35; Scott Rotolo, 34; Tanner Castro, 26; Pablo Martinez, 44; Jhon Adajar, 35; Peter Forseth, 64; Andrew Logsdon, 42; Johnathan Adame, 31; Santiago Guzman, 40; Everado Escobedo, 22; and Cristian Valera-Rodriguez, 38.
All men face charges for luring a minor with a computer to engage in sex. In the press release, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department wrote, "The LVMPD would like to remind parents to discuss with their children the dangers of online chats with strangers. Parents are encouraged to routinely monitor their children's activity on social media and other online applications to prevent them from becoming victims of a child sex predator."
According to 8 News Now Investigators, one of the men arrested, Tanner Castro, was reportedly a Las Vegas prosecutor.
Authorities with the Henderson Police Department said that Castro tried to meet an underage girl at a park to have sex in the backseat of his car. Instead, he had actually been communicating with a decoy during the undercover operation.
After his arrest, Castro was terminated from the Clark County District Attorney's Office. District Attorney Steve Wolfson stated that Castro had been employed as a deputy district attorney since September 2nd.
According to police, Castro used Kik with the username "boat666666" and Snapchat with the username "Rogue 96" while communicating during the undercover operation.
Police wrote, "The user later agreed to meet the decoy for sexual contact at a predetermined meeting location. The sexual contact included having sex in the backseat of the subject's car."
Castro later showed up at Whitney Mesa Park to meet who he believed would be an underage girl. Police said that they found a box of condoms in his car.
Castro faces two felony charges, including luring a child with the use of a computer to engage in sexual conduct and statutory sexual seduction.
On Saturday, October 14th, he posted bail and is scheduled to appear in court on November 7th.
Anyone who may have been a victim of any of these subjects or has information about their crimes is urged to contact the LVMPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force by phone at 702-828-3111.
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