Arizona police operation leads to 5 men being arrested for luring minor for sexual exploitation

Five men have been arrested and accused of trying to sexually exploit minors online in Arizona, authorities announced Monday.

The crackdown took place on Friday and Saturday, according to the Yuma Police Department, which coordinated with various state and federal agencies to search for child predators on digital platforms.

Five men were arrested after allegedly trying to meet with minors in the city of Yuma, police said:

• Jacob David Vasquez, 24, was charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking.
• Eduardo Jesus Martinez Aguila, 27, was charged with child sex trafficking and luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
• Lal Shivanesh, 37, was charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking.
• Ignacio Emmanuel Inzunza Jr., 39, was charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking and furnishing harmful items to a minor.
• Jesse Cruz Flores, 60, was charged with two counts of child sex trafficking and luring a minor for sexual exploitation.

Yuma Chief of Police Thomas Garrity urged parents to stay engaged in their children’s online lives.

“Know the apps they use, know who they are talking to and have regular conversations about online safety,” Garrity said in a Monday statement. “If you see something suspicious, say something. Report it to law enforcement. Protecting children is a shared responsibility.”

He also thanked all the partners in this crackdown: Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Goodyear and Peoria police departments, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the E3 Ranch Foundation.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Yuma Police Department at 928-373-4700. Anonymous tips can be made through 78-Crime at 928-782-7463.

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