Officials have made 16 arrests in connection with an alleged child sex trafficking ring. The suspects were found when detectives posed as minors online, speaking to suspects, leading to information that facilitated the arrests.
From FOX NEWS:
Authorities have arrested 16 suspects in Arizona in connection with child sex crimes and human trafficking. According to Phoenix Police, the department coordinated with other law enforcement agencies for "Operation Tangled Web," an undercover operation targeting the "demand for child sex crimes and human trafficking." In carrying out the operation, undercover detectives posted advertisements on websites that are "commonly sought out by suspects seeking illegal sex acts," the department said, FOX 10 reported. "The suspects allegedly solicited and/or brokered deals for various sex acts and were subsequently arrested," police said. "The Phoenix Police Department routinely conducts operations of this type with our local, state and federal partners in a continuous effort to reduce the demand that fuels child sex trafficking and the exploitation of children in our community," they continued. "The following suspects solicited various sex acts from minors and were arrested." ... Phoenix Police were assisted by the Tempe and Mesa police departments, the FBI, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office and the Department of Homeland Security. The agencies conduct child sex sting operations frequently, showing that there are ample cases in which individuals solicit sex from minors.
