Eleven men were arrested last week following a three-day undercover operation targeting online solicitation of minors in Bell County, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
The operation was conducted by DPS Criminal Investigation Division and Texas Highway Patrol, working alongside the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Bell County District Attorney's Office. All suspects engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with individuals who identified themselves as minors between 13 and 16 years old.
"These suspects thought they were talking to minors," TxDPS said. "They were talking to law enforcement."
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Nine suspects were charged with solicitation of prostitution of a person under 18 years of age. Two were charged with online solicitation of a minor. Four of those arrested were active-duty military members.
Those arrested and booked into Bell County Jail include:
Hae-Yong Pae, 44, Copperas Cove – Online Solicitation of a Minor
Xavier Alexander Barreto, 21, Fort Hood – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Ryan Lee Howard, 32, Buda – Online Solicitation of a Minor
Joseph Andrew Paine, 37, Temple – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Christopher Matias, 27, Fort Hood – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Samsus Moise Perfection St. Loth, 40, Killeen – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Omar Katrell Cherry, 45, Belton – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Ramon Antonio Rivera-Colon, 37, Belton – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Dwayne Dion Sherman, 32, Killeen – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Shaun Keenan O’Hara, 38, Gunnison, Colorado – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Tyron Lydell Williams, 55, Killeen – Solicitation of Prostitution of a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Anyone with information about human trafficking is asked to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or report suspicious activity at iwatchtx.org or by calling 1-844-643-2251.