21 Sexual Predators Arrested In Multi-Agency Sting Operation

TUCSON, AZ — Twelve federal, state and Tucson area law enforcement agencies recently arrested 21 alleged sexual predators in a multi-agency sting operation. The Tucson Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) initiated the investigation in May, motivating another 11 agencies to sign on to the sting too: the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Oro Valley Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Pima County Attorney’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The five-day operation occurred July 29-Aug. 2, with personnel from the participating agencies posing as juveniles and engaging in undercover internet chats with people who self-identified as adults. The law enforcement personnel posing as juveniles then consented to meet the adults and participate in sexual conduct in Tucson. However, the alleged predators received a surprise when they arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place and were met by law enforcement personnel instead of the “child” they had chatted with online.

All 21 men were arrested, then booked into the Pima County Jail, all facing charges of Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation (Class 3 Felony). Most of the 21 also face additional charges such as Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor (Class 3 Felony), Sex Trafficking of a Minor (Class 2 Felony), Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation (Class 2 Felony) and Sex Offender Registration Violation (Class 4 Felony).

“We recognize the value of working on these types of investigations in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, including those at the federal level. Their expertise and support were critical to the success of this operation. This was truly a team effort,” wrote Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus in a news release.

“The U.S. Marshals Service is dedicated to pursuing and stopping these types of predators. Our partnership with the Tucson Police Department and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies makes every effort to assure that child predators will be brought to justice and face the consequences of their actions,” wrote David Gonzales, District of Arizona U.S. Marshal.

The TPD encourages parents to check on their children’s internet history, online friends and social media accounts.