HCSO busts 25 for allegedly targeting minors online

HARRIS COUNTY (KTRK) -- More than two dozen men face charges, accused of targeting minors online for sex.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office will reveal details about the online sex sting bust Friday morning, but Eyewitness News has learned how it worked.

According to the sheriff's office, investigators with an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force identified people who had allegedly communicated with children in a sexually explicit manner using the internet and social media. For three days last week, officers talked to people online, posing as minors and talking about sex. Court records show some of the accused sent photos of their genitals and all showed up at an undisclosed location looking to follow through. When they knocked on the door, they were met by police.

Twenty five men were arrested in the sting, including Jose Morales, Phi C. Li, Sergio Soriano, James Scotch and Jerry Flucas, who had condoms and beer, according to court records. They are all charged with online solicitation of a minor, a second degree felony.

Investigators say one man showed up with his 2-year-old son and another is a licensed security officer. The twenty five range in age from 20 to 48.

The sting was led by the Harris County Sheriff's Office High Tech Crime Unit. The following is a list of the agencies that participated:

Harris County Sheriff's Office, Harris County District Attorney's Office, Houston Police Department, Katy ISD Police Department, Deer Park Police Department, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office, Texas Attorney General's Office, Waller County District Attorney's Office, Webster Police Department and Cypress Creek EMS.