FCPD Daily News Blog : 19 Felonies For Men Soliciting Minors Online Through Sting Operation

Fairfax Station VA

24 December, 2021

10:34 AM

Description

Press release from the FCPD Daily News Blog: December 23, 2021 Detectives from our Major Crimes and Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureaus arrested 10 men over the past two weeks through online sting operations that sought to identify and apprehend predators who use the internet to exploit children. In each case, offenders used online platforms to initiate explicit conversations and solicit sex from police officers posing as children. When each of the suspects arrived at the agreed upon locations, detectives took them into custody. The men, who ranged in age from 18 to 51, were charged with a combined 19 felonies.  Row 1 from left to right: Row 2 from left to right Row 3 from left to right: "Even during this holiday season, there are those who would prey against our most vulnerable, our children," said Major Ed O'Carroll, Bureau Chief, Major Crimes, Cyber and Forensics Bureau. "Fortunately for our community, our detectives remain steadfast to ensure the safety of our children. These crimes have no place in our society and certainly not here in Fairfax County."  Parents are urged to closely monitor their children's online activities and use available security settings to prevent the use of age-inappropriate sites or platforms. Children should be encouraged to report any person engaging in inappropriate conversations or trying to coerce them into providing sexually explicit images of themselves. Additional internet safety information provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children can be found here. There are many applications predators use to solicit victims. Parents are encouraged to know what applications their children are using and have open dialog of the dangers they may pose. Anyone with information regarding other cases involving the exploitation of children or human trafficking is asked to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type "FCCS" plus tip to 847411, and by web – Click HERE. Download our Mobile tip411 App "Fairfax Co Crime Solvers". Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 dollars if their information leads to an arrest.  For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.  This press release was produced by the FCPD Daily News Blog. The views expressed here are the author's own.