8 accused of child sex crimes as part of undercover operation in Scottsdale

PHOENIX – Eight men accused of various child sex crimes were arrested by undercover police in Scottsdale recently as part of a multi-agency operation, authorities said Thursday.

The Scottsdale Police Department’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit hosted the four-day Operation Back in Session in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and police in Avondale and Surprise.

Undercover detectives used social media to communicate with men who were allegedly trying to find minors for sex acts. Police arrested the men when they arrived at a meeting location in Scottsdale.

The suspects were booked into Maricopa County Jail on the following counts, police said:

• Jesse Barry: Child sex trafficking, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, attempted money laundering.
• Cesar Sepulveda: Child sex trafficking, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, attempted money laundering.
• Bernard Camp: Attempted sexual conduct with a minor, luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
• Jose Frias: Child sex trafficking, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, attempted money laundering.
• Jason Michelli: Child sex trafficking, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, attempted money laundering.
• Mohamed Megahed: Child sex trafficking, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, attempted money laundering.
• Lu Reh: Child sex trafficking, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, attempted money laundering.
• Terry Patton: Aggravated luring a minor for sexual exploitation, unlawful distribution of images, transmitting obscene material to a minor.

Anybody with information about a sex trafficking is encouraged to report it to the Scottsdale police tip line at 480-312-3456 or SPDHEATTipline@scottsdaleaz.gov.

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