Internet Predator Sting Operation Snares 30 Suspects In Fairfax

Michael O'Connell
·4 min read

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Detectives from Fairfax County's Major Crimes and Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureaus arrested 30 men earlier this month as part of "Operation COVID Crackdown," a sting operation to identify and apprehend predators using the internet to exploit children, according to a police news release.

In each of the cases, the men, who range in age from 20 to 74, initiated explicit conversations with Fairfax County Police Department officers posing as children in order to solicit sex. Once the suspects arrived at an agreed upon location, they were taken into custody by detectives.

“Our detectives have remained vigilant and they recognized the increased threat posed by online predators in recent weeks,” said Major Ed O’Carroll, bureau commander, major crimes. “I commend their ability to adapt during this unprecedented public health pandemic and to do so in the interest of protecting our children and bringing justice to those who commit these repugnant crimes.”

Police charged the following individuals with a combined 68 felonies:

Row 1 from left to right:

  1. Cesar Vales II, 29, of Manassas, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  2. Halmar Lizama Henriquez, 26, of no fixed address, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  3. Juan Moreno Colindres, 65, of Maryland, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  4. Moises Aguilar Cano, 36, of Manassas, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  5. Renzo Portal, 26, of Centreville, charged with solicitation of a minor and soliciting a minor for prostitution

  6. Zachary Kearns, 31, of Oakton, charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

Row 2 from left to right

  1. Carlos Deras Lopez, 30, of Alexandria, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  2. Franklin Galvez, 25, of Maryland, charged with solicitation of a minor and soliciting a minor for prostitution

  3. Jose Argueta Amaya, 32, of West Virginia, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  4. Mohamed Mansaray, 23, of Alexandria, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  5. Pedro Gonzalez, 50, of Fairfax, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  6. Yuson Joshi, 27, of Woodbridge, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

Row 3 from left to right:

  1. Carlos Giron-Reyes, 22, of Woodbridge, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  2. Eric Womack, 36, of Washinton D.C., charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  3. Jean Pardo Pesantes, 22, of Maryland, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  4. Jose Mejia Carabantes, 36, of Fairfax, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  5. Nelson Sosa Grande, 38, of Fairfax, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  6. Xavier Jackson, 24, of Springfield, charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

Row 4 from left to right:

  1. Alfonso Diaz-Martinez, 36, of Sterling, was charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  2. Concepcion Gonzalez, 38, of Reston, was charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  3. Japher Flores Arriaza, 20, of Fairfax, was charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  4. Kumar Bhandari, 37, of Annandale, was charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  5. Nelson Diaz Ramos, 32, of Annandale, was charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  6. Tod Rehm, 74, of Fairfax, was charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

Row 5 from left to right:

  1. Adam Wheeling, 26, of Haymarket, was charged with four counts of solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  2. Christopher Barnard, 27, of Burke, was charged with solicitation of a minor and soliciting a minor for prostitution

  3. James Rosenberger, 28, of Warrenton, was charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  4. Kirrolos Guirguis, 25, of Herndon, was charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  5. Naga Bollina, 42, of Ashburn, was charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

  6. Thomas Kuglin, 39, of Chantilly, was charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties

With the school closures and distance learning implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic, police warned parents to be more vigilant about their children's online activities. They should encourage their children to report any inappropriate conversations or when anyone attempts to coerce them into sending sexually explicit images of themselves. Additional internet safety information can be found on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website.

Police ask anyone with information about other cases involving human trafficking or the exploitation of children to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS.

This article originally appeared on the Herndon Patch