In a recent crackdown on online child exploitation, ten individuals were apprehended during a two-day undercover sting operation carried out by a coalition of law enforcement agencies. The North Las Vegas Police Department (NLVPD) headed the multi-agency initiative as part of the Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force's mission to protect minors from online predators. The NLVPD collaborated with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Henderson Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office on April 28 and 29 to pull off the feat.
The individuals arrested in this major operation ranged in age from 22 to 51, with charges that included luring a child with a computer for a sex act and attempted sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, among others, each facing serious charges that highlight the abhorrent nature of these crimes against young, vulnerable victims, and reflect the seriousness with which law enforcement pursues those who prey on children. The operation is a continuation of ongoing efforts to tackle violent crime and safeguard children in communities across the state.
According to a social media post from NLVPD, those taken into custody during the operation are Daniel Hennigh, 22; Vaughn Catillon, 51; Shawn Crawford, 51; Andrew Mosely, 23; Deepen Kothari, 42; Oliver Cruz Tejeda, 30; Kevin Rodriguez-Umana, 30; David Jones, 32; Levi Smith III, 39; and Alistair Cooper, 28. The full list of charges includes preparing/advertising/distributing child sexual abuse material and luring a child with a computer for a sex act, solidifying the intention of law enforcement to prosecute to the fullest extent.
In the aftermath of the sting, the NLVPD urged parents and guardians to engage with their children about the dangers of interacting with strangers online and consistently supervise their digital activities, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in a world where isolation makes the innocent all the more vulnerable to unseen threats, and the police department's resolve in their message, "Together, we protect our future." Individuals with information about the case or concerns that a child may have been victimized are encouraged to contact the LVMPD ICAC Task Force directly or to submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
