ARIZONA NEWS

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.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Stock image of power lines. A power outage left thousands of residents in the city of Maricopa with...

KTAR.com

Widespread power outage in city of Maricopa leaves thousands without electricity

Much of the city of Maricopa was without electricity Tuesday morning due to a widespread power outage.

10 minutes ago

Mobile mammography unit offers breast cancer screenings in Valley...

Serena O'Sullivan

Banner Health offers on-the-go breast cancer screenings with mobile mammography unit

Banner Health announced its 3D mobile mammography unit, which will screen Valley women for breast cancer, last week.

4 hours ago

Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs onstage during the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Festival at ...

David Veenstra

Imagine Dragons announces ‘Loom’ tour, Phoenix show at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Imagine Dragons is bringing the "Loom" tour to Phoenix this fall. The "Radioactive" rockers will make a stop in Phoenix on Oct. 6.

4 hours ago

Exterior and pool at Portico, a luxury condominium development under construction in Scottsdale....

Kevin Stone

Luxury Scottsdale condo development Portico sells out months before opening

Portico, a luxury condominium community under construction in Scottsdale, is fully sold out, developers announced Monday.

4 hours ago

Blossom Rock at Superstition Vistas throws event on Saturday...

Serena O'Sullivan

Grand opening for master-planned community in Apache Junction offers food trucks, music, tours

Brookfield Properties will throw a grand opening event to bring attention to the Blossom Rock at Superstition Vistas community on Saturday.

4 hours ago

A 4-year-old boy died after being pulled from a pool. (Pexels Photo)...

KTAR.com

4-year-old boy dead after being pulled from Mesa pool

A 4-year-old boy has died after he was pulled from a pool in Mesa on Monday evening, according to the Mesa Police Department.

11 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

DESERT INSTITUTE FOR SPINE CARE

Desert Institute for Spine Care is the place for weekend warriors to fix their back pain

Spring has sprung and nothing is better than March in Arizona. The temperatures are perfect and with the beautiful weather, Arizona has become a hotbed for hikers, runners, golfers, pickleball players and all types of weekend warriors.

...

DISC Desert Institute for Spine Care

Sciatica pain is treatable but surgery may be required

Sciatica pain is one of the most common ailments a person can face, and if not taken seriously, it could become one of the most harmful.

...

Fiesta Bowl Foundation

The 51st annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade is excitingly upon us

The 51st annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe is upon us! The attraction honors Arizona and the history of the game.

34 Valley child sex crime suspects arrested in Operation Broken Hearts