Howard County police say a multi-day child-solicitation investigation ended this week with five men in handcuffs after they allegedly showed up in Columbia for what they believed would be meetings with minors. Detectives used undercover online accounts that posed as juveniles, then moved in when the men arrived at prearranged locations. Investigators describe the operation as a proactive effort to stop adults who try to shift conversations with minors from apps to in-person encounters.
According to police, the men arrested were identified as Madus R. Wijesuriya Arachchige Don, 29, of Frederick, Logan Proctor Ehren, 32, of Fort Meade, William Rodney Moser, 29, of Rocky Ridge, Santos Alexi Andrade Maltez, 34, of Germantown, and Andrew Scott Kraemer, 35, of Pasadena. Each faces a charge of sexual solicitation of a minor and was taken into custody at the meeting spots, the Howard County Police Department reported. As noted by DC News Now, all five were arrested on-site immediately after the undercover contacts.
How the sting worked
Police say detectives used various online apps to communicate with the suspects and arrange meetings in Colombia, where officers were waiting. Operations like this are often carried out with support or coordination from Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and follow tactics similar to those laid out in federal efforts to combat online enticement. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, coordinated local, state, and federal operations use online investigations and planned meetups to identify and arrest adults who seek to exploit minors.
Legal implications
In Maryland, sexual solicitation of a minor falls under state criminal law and can be charged as a felony. State code sets out the elements of solicitation offenses and possible penalties for knowingly soliciting a minor or an undercover officer posing as a minor. The statute and related sentencing materials outline potential prison terms and fines for those convicted. The legal framework and maximum penalties are summarized in Justia, which reproduces Maryland Code § 3-324.
Where to report and what’s next
Anyone with information about these incidents or similar online approaches is urged to contact local law enforcement or submit a tip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. The organization explains how reports are routed to the appropriate agencies and offers guidance on what to include when reporting. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children also operates a 24-hour call center for immediate concerns.
The Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office is expected to review the investigation and any formal charges as the cases move through county courts. Police have not said whether they anticipate additional arrests at this time, and detectives are still encouraging anyone who may have been solicited or who has relevant information to come forward to assist the ongoing probe.
