How the operation worked
The case involves 13 men from across the Denver metro area, ages 21 to 65, who face charges after an undercover operation that Aurora police said began in mid-August, according to Sentinel Colorado. Authorities said two of the men were already registered sex offenders. The men face charges.
Aurora police said Operation Safe Kids began in mid-August 2026 and lasted about a month, according to Sentinel Colorado. Investigators used online personas presented as minors while investigating suspected efforts to arrange paid sexual encounters with children. The operation included the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and the FBI, and police said suspects came from communities throughout the Denver metro area.
Police said some suspects arrived with the exact amount of cash discussed for the proposed sexual services, despite being told they were communicating with someone underage, according to Sentinel Colorado. Four suspects stopped communicating after learning the persona was underage, then re-engaged after being told the proposed meeting involved paid sex with a minor.
What investigators say suspects carried
According to the report, the 13 suspects collectively brought a quantity of ketamine, a quantity of vodka, seven sexual devices and one firearm to the operation, as reported by Sentinel Colorado. Seth Robertson said offenders who seek to sexually exploit children can do so behind closed doors and out of public view.
Defendants held on bond at the county jail
Jeffrey Lutsk was arrested July 17 in Aurora and charged with internet luring of a child, internet sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual assault of a child. He was held on $50,000 bond at the Arapahoe County jail.
Jesus Cedillo was arrested August 27 in Aurora and charged with soliciting for commercial sexual activity with a child, patronizing a prostituted child and attempted engaging in commercial sexual activity with a child. He was held on $25,000 bond at the Arapahoe County jail.
Devar Lewis was arrested August 28 in Aurora and charged with internet luring of a child, patronizing a prostituted child and attempted solicitation for commercial sexual activity with a child. He was held on $50,000 bond at the Arapahoe County jail.
Robert Titus was arrested August 29 in Aurora and faces charges of internet luring of a child, attempted sexual assault of a child and internet sexual exploitation of a child. He was held on $75,000 bond at the Arapahoe County jail.
Defendants released on bond
Frank Herman was arrested August 20 in Arvada and faces attempted sexual assault of a child, internet luring of a child, sexual exploitation of children, patronizing a prostituted child and solicitation of child prostitution. He was released on $25,000 bond. Kristopher Dominguez was arrested the same day in Denver and faces the same nearly identical charges; he was released on $50,000 bond.
Jonathan Kranich was arrested August 27 in Centennial and faces attempted sexual assault of a child, internet luring of a child, patronizing a prostituted child and soliciting for commercial sexual activity with a child. He was released on $75,000 bond. Thomas Wohlman was arrested that day in Denver and charged with habitual sexual offender of a child, attempted engaging in commercial sexual activity with a child and solicitation of child prostitution; he was released on $75,000 bond.
Samuel Wahlgren was arrested August 27 in Denver and faces charges of attempted engaging in commercial sexual activity with a child, patronizing a prostituted child and solicitation of child prostitution. He was released on $30,000 bond.
Danny Davis was arrested August 28 and charged with internet luring of a child, soliciting for commercial sexual activity with a child and attempted engaging in commercial sexual activity with a child. He was released on $25,000 bond. Joshua Tarver was arrested the same day and faces patronizing a prostituted child and attempted solicitation for commercial sexual activity with a child; he was released on $25,000 bond.
Hikmat Hikmat was arrested August 28 in Castle Pines and charged with attempted sexual assault of a child, patronizing a prostituted child and solicitation for commercial sexual activity with a child. He was released on $25,000 bond.
Fermin Rivera-Garcia was arrested August 29 and charged with solicitation for commercial sexual activity with a child and patronizing a prostituted child. He was released on $25,000 bond.
Agencies involved and case status
The 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations also participated in the sting, as reported by Sentinel Colorado.
Earlier Aurora operation and reporting resources
The current arrests are not the first such operation reported in Aurora. According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, a separate two-day operation on April 8 and 9, 2021, resulted in 10 arrests of suspects accused of attempting to arrange sexual encounters with a minor. That comparison shows prior enforcement activity but does not, by itself, establish a statewide trend in online child-exploitation reports. Families and others who suspect abuse or neglect can report it through the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 844-CO-4-Kids, which routes calls to the county where the child resides, according to the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Colorado Office of School Safety lists Safe2Tell Colorado at 877-542-7233 or by texting S2TCO to 738477 for anonymous safety concerns.
