Sheriff: Man with baby, 24 others busted in Harris Co. child sex sting
HARRIS COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- Twenty five men who thought they were meeting a teenage girl for sex are now charged with online solicitation of a minor.
One of the men even brought along his infant child to the meet up.
The sheriff department's High Tech Crime Unit says these men were online looking for underage girls to have sex with, now they are facing criminal charges.
The 25 men used smart phone apps and online chat rooms to start conversations with what they thought was a 14-year-old girl.
When the men showed up to an apartment complex to have sex with the child it was deputies who greeted them.
HCSO says this suspect, Romarcus Marshall, brought his 2-year-old child along with him.
HCSO Sheriff Ron Hickman said, "In my experience, one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. But clearly these people do not care about anyone except themselves, I mean, the height of selfishness, I mean he brought this 2-year-old child literally on his hip."
And then there is Cesar Rodriguez who allegedly claimed to be a police officer in Fort Bend County. He's actually a security guard.
VIDEO: HCSO busts 25 for allegedly targeting minors
Hickman said,, "It is not uncommon for people to pose as peace officers, they go to the extent where they get uniforms and even paint their cars and stuff and stop people on the street posing as officers."
Officials say the only way to make sure your kids are safe is to talk to them about the dangers of meeting an online friend in real life.
Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said, "Don't ever set up a meet with somebody you don't know. It is that basic. That is where the danger happens."
As for the man who brought his child to the meet up, the child is now in the custody of CPS.
All the suspects are local men and authorities say they all sought out kids online to have sex.
In all, eleven agencies assisted the Harris County Sheriff's Office in the investigation.
The following suspects were booked into the Harris County Jail on charges of online solicitation of a minor:
- William Ortiz, 25
- John Terramiggi, 48
- J. R. Eaves, 29
- Phong Vu Vu-Phan, 24
- Sampath Yerramsetti, 31
- Romarcus Marshall, 21
- Louis Holguin, 43
- Jose Ray Morales, 31
- Miguel Ibarra-Castillo, 43
- Jose Mendoza, 31
- Cesar Raul Rodriguez, 32
- Devonte Williams, 24
- Pablo Benitez, 43
- C.J. Devontay Lewis, 20
- Phi C. Li, 27
- Ahmed Adekunle Balogun, 29
- Patrick Rodriguez, 38
- Rajeev Manandhar, 27
- Sergio Soriano, 30
- Jerry Pierre Flucas, 30
- Olanrewaju Anthony Olufemi, 28
- Eddy Zephirin Shylou, 22
- James Walter Scotch, 35
- Sisir Mallela, 33
- Fredi Ramiez, 22
