34 Valley child sex crime suspects arrested in Operation Broken Hearts
Feb 19, 2021, 11:47 AM | Updated: 12:29 pm
PHOENIX – Operation Broken Hearts, a multi-agency Phoenix-area sting targeting sexual predators, yielded 34 arrests on a variety of child sex crime charges, authorities said Friday.
The suspects allegedly solicited or brokered deals for sex acts with children in response to ads placed online by undercover officers and detectives, according to a Phoenix Police Department press release.
The Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Chandler police departments worked with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office on the sting.
The agencies take part in similar operations each year. Last year’s sting, Operation Silent Predator, resulted in 27 arrests.
Anybody with information about sex trafficking should contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org) or their local police department.
Here is the full list of suspects, with age, reporting agency and charges (per the Phoenix Police Department):
- Eric Niles, 38, Chandler: State Human Trafficking out of Missouri (arrested in Missouri).
- Fred Yazzie, 29, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Hugo Munoz, 48, Mesa: Child Sex Trafficking, Money Laundering, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Tristan Usleman, 29, AG’s Office: Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
- Raymond Rendon, 21, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking.
- Jonathan Holt, 21, Mesa: Child Sex Trafficking, Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Money Laundering.
- Justin Walowitz, 39, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Mark Perry, 35, Tempe: Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Otilio Rendon-Meneses, 62, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Gregory Ryan, 37, Tempe: Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- William Kellin, 58, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Brandon Price, 34, Mesa: Aggravated Luring of a Minor, Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Child Sex Trafficking, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Marcos Benitez-Leyva, 34, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Agustin Johnson, 59, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Karlton Clemons, 59, Phoenix: Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Chris Flamard, 55, Mesa: Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Erik Rodriguez, 37, Mesa: Child Sex Trafficking, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Money Laundering.
- Robert Favela, 37, Phoenix: Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Tyvan Hunter, 33, Mesa: Child Sex Trafficking, Money Laundering and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Wilmont Parker, 37, Mesa: Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Mark Smith, 42, Tempe: Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- John Meadows, 60, Phoenix: Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Thomas Greenlaw, 23, Chandler: Child Sex Trafficking, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Mikhael Elkhoury, 66, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Thomas Fisher, 43, Tempe: Child Sex Trafficking, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Jefferson Coffman, 55, Tempe: Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor.
- Brian Weigler, 58, Tempe: Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Luring a minor for Sexual Exploitation.
- Hilario Samudio, 29, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Shawn Williams, 36, Phoenix: Child Sex Trafficking, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Possession of Dangerous Drugs.
- Thomas Casey, 57, Mesa and Tempe: Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor (two counts).
- Stephen Alavi, 26, Mesa: Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Jessica Mihalovits, 39, Mesa: Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
- Matthew Shaffer, 23, Mesa: Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor, Furnishing Harmful Material to a Minor.
- Nicholas Williams, 32, Phoenix: Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sex Conduct with a Minor.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said there were 37 arrests, which was the figure initially reported by the Phoenix Police Department.