Sting nets sexual predators
Seven arrested for seeking sex with minor
Seven men, including one from Strathmore, have been arrested as a result of Operation Baby Face which was announced 11 days ago.
The new arrests are of men allegedly seeking sex with teenage girls and lured by a sting operation of the sheriff’s office, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux announced Monday.
On Aug. 11, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Operation Baby Face dismantled a human trafficking organization that sexually exploited 23 juveniles and 29 adults in Tulare County. Three primary suspects were arrested for human trafficking and 12 people were arrested for co-conspiracy.
On Monday, Boudreaux announced seven men were arrested over the weekend following an operation similar to “Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator.”
The safety of the children in Tulare County is of the utmost importance, said Boudreaux. “We have only just begun to scratch the surface on the predators trying to lure our children online into sexual exploitation,” he said.
As a result of Operation Baby Face Phase I, detectives learned of sexual predators who were operating separately from the human trafficking case on the
internet via social media. Operation Baby Face Phase II focuses on those predators.
Through an online undercover operation, seven predators were identified and arrested late Friday for soliciting an adult undercover deputy purporting herself to be a 16-year-old female juvenile online for sexual exploitation, said the sheriff.
“I want the public’s attention,” he said. “The public needs to know that there are predators looking to prey on the innocence of our children. We will be vigilant and aggressive in identifying these predators.”
Parental involvement is vital in protecting our children, Boudreaux said. “There needs to be community awareness about what children face online,” he added.
The Sheriff’s Office will be kicking off an internet awareness child safety campaign in the near future, he said.
“There are predators seeking our children,” he said. ”Our goal is
to educate children and their parents about how to keep children safe.”
He urges parents to call local law enforcement if they suspect their children are being exploited.
“Speak to your children,” he said. “Ask the difficult questions.”
During Operation Baby Face Phase I, a female deputy represented herself online as a 16-year-old girl in Tulare County. In no time, several men pursued her even though it was clear she was underage.
While they didn’t meet the criteria of a human trafficking case, they did pursue her, whom they believed to be a female juvenile, for sexual acts.
The undercover deputy continued the rouse online and agreed to meet up with 13 predators at different times late Friday during an undercover operation in Tulare County. Seven showed up and were arrested.
There are six other active felony cases. Detectives will continue to collect evidence to determine if appropriate
charges should be filed with the District Attorney.
Those taken into custody are: Armondo Pazrea, 31, of Hanford; Eduardo Prado-castaneda, 26, of Strathmore; Jesus Angel Narez, 23, of Fresno; Luis Angel Hernandez, 28, of Hanford; Mario Sanchez, 25, of Woodlake; Salvador Campos, 35, of Orosi; and Serafin De Jesus Rosales, 27, Earlimart
The undercover deputy indicated that within seconds of communicating online with a new suspect, the topic turned sexual in nature with multiple suspects sending her naked photos of themselves.
Numbers parents can call are Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, 7336218 or anonymously through Tipnow at (559) 725-4194 or tcso@tipnow.com.; Family Services’ Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Hotline: 732-7273; National Human Trafficking Resource Center: (888) 373-7888 or Tulare County District Attorney’s Office Victim/witness Assistance Division 636-5471.