14 men arrested in sting targeting ‘potential sexual predators’ from Fresno to SLO County

Bryant-Jon Anteola
·2 min read

Fourteen men were arrested on charges related to trying to have sex with a child as part of a multi-agency sting operation that spanned from the San Joaquin Valley to the Central Coast.

The undercover sting, called “Operation Boogeyman,” was conducted from Oct. 18-20 and involved 17 law enforcement agencies, including the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and the Paso Robles Police Department.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office released the names and ages of the suspects arrested:

  • James Barboza, 31

  • Cresenciano Cortez Merino, 39

  • Desmond Fitzgerald, 21

  • Louie Gonzalez, 41

  • Jack Hastings, 30

  • Elias Ibarra, 30

  • Sukhpreet Jassar, 57

  • Giovanni Jimenez, 29

  • Miguel Jimenez, 34

  • Sebastian Mouvangsou, 30

  • Anthony Rice, 27

  • Eliazar Sanchez, 39

  • Bryan Smith, 35

  • Alonzo Watson, 58

During “Operation Boogeyman,” detectives posing as preteen and early teenage boys and girls identified, contacted and arrested people who may be trying to target children for sex.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said the suspects used sexually explicit language and sent graphic photos to the undercover detectives.

The Sheriff’s Office said all of the suspects were first to express their sexual desires and they initiated a time to meet.

Following their arrests, the majority of suspects have since posted bond, been assigned a court date and been released from custody.

No actual children were ever used or placed in danger during the operation, the Sheriff’s Office added.

Agencies involved in the operation were:

  • California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation

  • California Department of Justice

  • Central California Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

  • Fresno County Sheriff’s Office

  • Fresno County District Attorney’s Office

  • Fresno County Probation Adult Compliance Team (ACT)

  • Fresno Police Department

  • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

  • Madera County Sheriff’s Office

  • Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office

  • Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC)

  • Paso Robles Police Department

  • San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office

  • Sanger Police Department

  • U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California

  • Visalia Police Department

Law enforcement is reminding the public to be vigilant when it comes to visiting websites and social media outlets.

They suggest parents monitor their children’s internet usage and be aware of the apps they are using.

Operation Boogeyman remains an ongoing investigation and more arrests could be made.