Nineteen men are now facing legal trouble after a three‑day undercover child‑solicitation sting in Johnson County, officials said. The sweep is the latest round in a long‑running push to catch suspected online predators working in and around the county, and authorities say most of the men now face preliminary child‑solicitation charges.
Multi‑agency operation nets 19 arrests
The operation pulled together the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin, Bargersville, Greenfield and Westfield police departments, and the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office, according to WIBC. WIBC published the full list of those booked — including Kevin Butrum, Michael Roney, Angel Pineda, Van Biak Lal, Michael Gallagher, Mohanad Al‑Mashraeai, David Nungini Mfulani and others — and reported that 18 men face preliminary child‑solicitation charges, while 28‑year‑old Austin Buscher is accused of misdemeanor patronizing a prostitute and possession of a controlled substance.
“This is a powerful example of what can be accomplished through strong partnerships,” Sheriff Duane Burgess told the station, pointing to the coordinated work among the local agencies involved.
Years‑long crackdown on online predators
The latest sting is part of an initiative that began in 2019 to identify online predators. Earlier multi‑agency efforts have already produced dozens of arrests, including a 32‑person sweep in 2023, according to reporting by WRTV.
Local agencies say undercover detectives pose as minors on social platforms and arrange meetings that end in arrests, a tactic deputies credit with both deterring would‑be offenders and building cases they believe will hold up in court.
Next steps for the cases
The men arrested in the latest operation are being processed on preliminary charges, and the Johnson County Prosecutor's Office will handle the cases, WIBC notes. Sheriff Burgess and prosecutors also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s online activity and to report any tips or suspicious behavior to local law enforcement.
