More than 100 Arrested in Child Sex Investigation

Houston, TX — The Houston-Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested 126 people as part of a two-month long investigation into online child predators. HPD announced the arrests Friday, June 17, at a morning press conference.

Dubbed "Operation Broken Heart III," the investigation involved more than 30 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

The arrests cut across all lines of society, with alleged perpetrators ranging from a pizza delivery man to a former police officer.

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The investigation targeted people who were involved in all aspects of the sexual exploitation of children--from the manufacture and distribution of child pornography to the enticement of children for sexual purposes to child prostitution.

One of the areas that law enforcement officials focused during this investigation was online gaming, which is what some of the suspects used to solicit children, according to an official from the Department of Homeland Security.

The Harris County District Attorney's Office was among one of the agencies involved in the operation, the DA's office said that a security guard and someone who works at a kickboxing gym were among the people arrested in Harris County.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff's office told reporters that a volunteer firefighter and someone who regularly volunteers at a children's charity were among those arrested.