A multi-agent undercover operation involving several Maricopa County law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Marshals Services and US. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) recently resulted in the arrests of 21 men in connection with child sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation.
Operation “Back to Skool” was led by the Surprise Police Department in partnership with HSI, USMS, and the police departments from Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria, and Scottsdale. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona are handling the prosecutions.
According to an HSI statement, the valley wide undercover operation involved detectives placing ads on websites commonly visited by those seeking illegal sex acts with children.
“Operations of this type are a part of the law enforcement’s continuous effort to reduce the demand that fuels child sex trafficking and exploitation of children in our community,” the statement reads.
HSI takes a victim-centered approach to child exploitation investigations by working to identify, rescue and stabilize victims. The agency works in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) taskforce partners, and myriad federal, state, and local agencies to identify and apprehend child predators.
The undercover Back to Skool operation in Maricopa County is just one of several conducted each year in which Arizona’s local law enforcement agencies across the state partner with HSI.
Two days after the 21 arrests were announced in Maricopa County, a 44-year-old Sierra Vista man was taken into custody following an investigation into the online transfer of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which can include sexually exploitive images or videos of children as well as the depiction of the often violent sexual abuse of children.
The investigation which led to Jeremy Scott Cox’s arrest was initiated in August after NCMEC reported to the Arizona ICAC taskforce that a certain internet protocol (IP) address in the Sierra Vista area was used to share suspected CSAM. Detectives obtained information on the IP address and on Friday morning a search warrant was executed at Cox’s residence.
“They recovered related evidence from the residence and from Cox,” according to a press release from the Sierra Vista Police Department announcing Cox was arrested on suspicion of three counts of felony sexual exploitation of a minor.
Bail has been set at $100,000, cash or bond.
Cox most recently worked as a data security analyst for a privately owned, Virginia-based company which services federal agencies. The company has a location in Sierra Vista, home to the U.S. Army’s Fort Huachuca.
Meanwhile, the Back to Skool Operation in Maricopa County centered on predators who were actually trying to arrange to have sex with children or who were facilitating others to engage in such crimes.
Those arrested by Surprise PD in Operation Back to Skool:
James Baker, 54, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Hugo Carillo Flores, 23, charged with Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, and Child Sex Trafficking
Albert Carranza, 34, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Hansel Nicasio Cobos Soto, 29, charged with Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking, Refusing to Provide Truthful Name, Dangerous Drugs
Travis Gonda, 35, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Shane Johnson, 50, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Nicholas Langrine, 35, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Tong Minh Phan, 43, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Fernando Ramirez, 32, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Michael Rivers, 38, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Darius Showers, 45, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking, Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
Sean Truong, 63, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Van Lal Uk, 40, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking, Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
Andrew Velasco, 34, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Owen Wright, 50, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking, Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
Those arrested by Scottsdale PD in Operation Back to Skool:
Eric Encarnacion, 26, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
David Jobski, 52, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
Rekil Patel, 29, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking
James Preise, 62, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
Chris Vale, 43, charged with Child Sex Trafficking, Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Use of a Minor in a Drug Offense, Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor
Dominic Ybarra, 26, charged with Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Child Sex Trafficking, Criminal Damage
Suspected child sexual exploitation may be reported to NCMEC’s toll-free 24-hour hotline (1-800-843-5678). Tipsters can also contact HSI directly at 1-866-347-2423 or by completing the HSI online tip form.
