ABILENE, TX – In mid-March, the Abilene Police Department’s Cyber Crimes Unit, Fraud Unit, and Special Operations Division, with collaboration from the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division and the U.S. Marshal’s Service, conducted an undercover operation targeting individuals trying to sexually exploit minors. Special Agents and Detectives arrested individuals who used public webpages, internet sites and social media applications to exploit minor. As a result of this investigation, 30 individuals from in and around the Abilene area showed up to arranged meetings with alleged minor children to sexually exploit them. In all 29 offenders were arrested and 1 is pending arrest warrants. This is a continuing investigation. The arrested individuals and charges are as follows:
Samuel Kuehn 32 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor Under age of 14
Rufus Smith 20 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Roberto Morales 20 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Quinten Edwards 23 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Morgan Layton 41 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor Under age of 14
Micahel Knapp 48 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Michael Martinez 24 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Michael Hawley 33 yoa, of Sweetwater. Online Solicitation of a Minor
Michale Dawson 41 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Michael Cook 37 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Kenneth Kocher 54 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Karif Anderson 24 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Joshua Kendrick 20 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Joseph Mitchell 20 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Jose Gonzalez 21 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Jose Calzoncinth 25 yoa, of San Angelo, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Jonathan Pressley 20 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Johnathan Flint 21 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor.
James Powell 25 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Hector Gloria 20 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Geoffrey Hupp 43 yoa, of Midland, Online Solicitation of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography
Gabriel Morales 19 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Elijah Ojeda 23 yoa, of Midland, Online Solicitation of a Minor
David Turnage 55 yoa, of Clyde, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Conor Yerby 26 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Clinton Lundy 20 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Carleel Crowley 25 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Caleb Johnson 19 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Virgil Perkins 65 yoa, Online Solicitation of a Minor