HOUSTON – Twenty-five people were arrested during a three-day sting aimed at those who solicit minors online for sex, deputies said.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the department’s High Tech Crime Unit teamed up with multiple agencies to conduct the operation.
Investigators said they concentrated on a section of southeast Harris County, looking for people who used social media and other internet-based services to communicate with children in a sexually explicit manner. The people then made plans to meet with the children to engage in sex, they said.
"Stranger danger is in our homes now," said Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson.
PHOTOS: 25 arrested during online predator sting
One of the people arrested, identified as Romarcus Deon Marshall, took his 2-year-old son to the meeting, deputies said. They said another suspect, identified as Cesar Raul Rodriguez, identified himself as a Fort Bend County police officer and took condoms and alcohol to the meeting.
The following people were also arrested: Patrick Rodriguez, J.R. Eaves, Pablo Benitez, Devonte Williams, Phi Le, Ahmed Adekunle Balogun, C.J. Devontay Lewis, Sampath Yerramsetti, Jose Morales, William, Ortiz, Luis Gracian Holguin, Jose Mendoza, Phong Nhu Vu-Phan, John J. Terramiggi, Olanrewaju Olufemi, James Scotch, Sisir Mallela, Sergio Soriano, Rajeev Manandhar, Jerry Flucas, Fredi Ramirez, Eddy Zephirin Shylou and Manuel Ibarra-Castillo.
All of those arrested were charged with second-degree online solicitation of a minor.
Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman said parents must be involved in their child's online life. He said just talking to them about the dangers of chatting with and meeting strangers online is a great first step.