Sheriff Makes Multiple Arrests In MD, VA Involving Sexual Exploitation Of Children

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Eight men from Maryland and Northern Virginia are facing charges after Loudoun County authorities said they sexually exploited multiple children under age 15 through internet chat rooms and social media platforms.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with the Northern Virginia-Washington D.C. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to carry out the operation during the week of April 21, the agency said in a news release.

During the investigation, authorities learned the suspects were trying to use the internet to exploit minors in Loudoun County.

Police arrested the following individuals. Each was charged with using communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children:

• Dhiru Savjibhal Patel, 75, of Aldie, Virginia
• Diego Alejandro Soto Castano, 28, of Alexandria, Virginia
• Ravi Shankar Reddy Gunipalli, 45, of Herndon, Virginia
• Thomas Ian Wallace, 29, of Herndon, Virginia
• Ruben Oben Nouta, 28, of Herndon, Virginia
• Michael Glenn Porter, 25, of Manassas, Virginia
• Johnny Daniel Duran, 47, of Hagerstown, Maryland
• Michael Peter Sherman, 26, of Rockville, Maryland

"Protecting children from online predators is one of our highest priorities, and I commend our investigative team and partners for their diligent efforts in securing these arrests," Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said in a statement. "These disturbing cases underscore the importance of parents actively monitoring what their children do online and on messaging platforms, and teaching them how to stay safe."

Seven of the men are in custody at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in Leesburg and being held with no bond. Another suspect was taken to the Montgomery County Detention Center in Rockville.