Law enforcement across three states delivered a crushing blow to online predators in coordinated sting operations, arresting fifteen men who believed they were meeting children for sexual exploitation.
Story Highlights
- Fifteen suspects arrested across Virginia, Massachusetts, and Oregon in separate child predator stings
- Undercover officers posed as minors online to catch would-be exploiters seeking illegal sexual contact
- Operations coordinated by specialized Child Exploitation Units during peak online activity periods
- Multiple felony charges filed including solicitation of minors and child pornography distribution
Multi-State Operations Target Online Predators
Three separate but coordinated law enforcement operations across Virginia, Massachusetts, and Oregon resulted in the arrest of fifteen men seeking to sexually exploit minors. The Fairfax County Police Department Child Exploitation Unit conducted a four-day operation during spring break 2025, netting five suspects including Steven Morales, Karl Frey, Joseph Nandigam, Adeel Chughtai, and Byron Crawford. Each operation utilized undercover officers posing as minors on digital platforms to identify and apprehend suspects.
Fall River, Massachusetts police coordinated with the State Police High-Risk Victims Unit on March 13, 2025, arresting Russell Phillips, Mark Brownell, Troy Medeiros, Orion Wellinghurst, and Carlos Arturo Fernandez Serna. The suspects arranged meetings for illegal sexual activity after communicating with what they believed were underage victims online. Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon conducted their sting on May 15, 2025, following investigations that began in early April, resulting in arrests of Raymi Calla-McFarlane, Karl Bawden, Glen Guthrie, Josue Romero-Lopez, and David Vichi.
Felony Charges Filed Against All Suspects
All fifteen suspects face multiple felony charges including solicitation of a minor, attempted indecent liberties with a child, and distribution of child pornography. Several suspects received additional charges, with some facing resisting arrest violations during apprehension. The coordinated nature of these operations reflects law enforcement’s strategic approach to combating the growing threat of online child exploitation during periods when minors spend increased time on digital platforms.
These arrests build upon previous successful operations, including a December 2024 Fairfax County sting that resulted in ten arrests. Law enforcement officials emphasize that both victims and suspects are becoming younger, highlighting the evolving nature of online exploitation threats. The timing of operations during school breaks targets peak periods when predators actively seek vulnerable minors online through social media platforms and messaging applications.
Parents Warned About Digital Safety Threats
Police departments issued urgent warnings to parents about the growing dangers children face online, particularly through hidden apps and late-night device usage. Law enforcement officials stress the critical importance of parental vigilance and comprehensive online safety education for families. The operations revealed how easily predators can access and manipulate children through seemingly innocent social media platforms and encrypted messaging services.
Investigations remain active across all three jurisdictions, with authorities seeking additional victims and information from the public. The success of these coordinated stings demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to proactive measures protecting American children from sexual predators who exploit digital platforms to target the most vulnerable members of our communities.
Sources:
5 men arrested in Fairfax County police sting targeting suspected online child predators
5 arrested after undercover operation to combat sexual exploitation of children
Five people arrested in undercover child predator sting
