ARIZONA NEWS

43 alleged sexual predators arrested across Valley as part of undercover operation

May 27, 2022, 3:00 PM

(File Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)...

(File Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

(File Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

PHOENIX – Federal and local authorities teamed up to make dozens of arrests as part of an undercover operation targeting alleged sexual predators in metro Phoenix, authorities said Friday.

Forty-three people were arrested as part of Operation Spring Fling, which focused on hotel and street prostitution, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced.

Almost all of the suspects were accused of soliciting sex acts. Some were booked on counts of child sex trafficking, drug possession and weapons misconduct.

Operation Spring Fling was a partnership involving Homeland Security Investigations, which is ICE’s main investigative arm, and the Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert and Surprise police departments.

The Arizona State University Police Department also participated.

Homeland Security Investigations encourages the public to report suspected sex trafficking by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (347-2423) or using the agency’s online tip form.

We want to hear from you.

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

Arizona News

This June 15, 2015, file photo shows in the distance, part of the Resolution Copper Mining land-swa...

Brandon King

Arizona copper mine construction delayed, as activists and the federal government work to find solution

Earlier this month, the federal government put a pause on the building of the planned Resolution Copper mine, the latest in a decade-long series of delays.

5 hours ago

Jorrell Yazzie (Chandler Police Department)...

Brandon Gray

Mesa man arrested after fatal crash in Chandler

PHOENIX – A woman is dead and a man was seriously injured after a three-vehicle crash Monday morning near Dobson and Ray roads in Chandler. A 2014 Dodge Avenger driven by 29-year-old Jorrell Yazzie of Mesa was northbound on Dobson Road when it struck the rear of the second vehicle, according to Chandler Police. The […]

5 hours ago

(U.S. Marshals Service Photo)...

KTAR.com

Fugitive wanted for sex crimes against children extradited from Mexico to Arizona

A man wanted by the Peoria Police Department for sex crimes against children was extradited back to the United States on Friday.

5 hours ago

A fast-casual Southern California restaurant is preparing to make its entrance into Arizona, with t...

Erin Edgemon/Phoenix Business Journal

Southern California restaurant chain The Crack Shack to make Arizona debut

Another Southern California-based fast-casual chicken restaurant is soon making its first foray into Arizona.

5 hours ago

The number of people driving more than 90 minutes to get to work has dropped in the Valley. (Jim Po...

Brandon Gray

Update: Backup cleared on I-17 in Northern Arizona.

Memorial Day travel is causing heavy traffic on southbound Interstate 17 in northern Arizona.

1 day ago

(Pexels Photo)...

KTAR.com

1-year-old dead after drowning in pool in Mesa

  A 1-year-old boy died after being pulled from a Mesa pool over the weekend, officials said.

1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Here are the biggest tips to keep your AC bill low this summer

PHOENIX — In Arizona during the summer, having a working air conditioning unit is not just a pleasure, but a necessity. No one wants to walk from their sweltering car just to continue to be hot in their home. As the triple digits hit around the Valley and are here to stay, your AC bill […]

...

Desert Institute for Spine Care

Spinal fusion surgery has come a long way, despite misconceptions

As Dr. Justin Field of the Desert Institute for Spine Care explained, “we've come a long way over the last couple of decades.”

...

re:vitalize

Why drug-free weight loss still matters

Wanting to lose weight is a common goal for many people as they progress throughout life, but choosing between a holistic approach or to take medicine can be a tough decision.

43 alleged sexual predators arrested across Valley as part of undercover operation