AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced the results of “Operation Broken Heart II,” a national undercover operation that included the Texas Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The national crackdown on child predators was a coordinated effort between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that conducted simultaneous investigations.
“Because of the tireless efforts of our law enforcement officials, we are taking dangerous predators who are stalking our children off the internet and off the street,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Protecting Texas families and communities from sex offenders who target our most vulnerable is one of the most important duties of this office. We will remain dedicated to rigorously investigating and prosecuting these criminals who seek to exploit children online.”
Over a period of two months, the Texas Attorney General’s ICAC executed 12 search warrants statewide and arrested 17 suspected offenders for one or more of the following: possession/promotion of child pornography, and engaging in online solicitation of a minor for sexual purposes. The initiative ran from April 1, 2015 to May 31, 2015.
The 17 suspects arrested by Texas Attorney General’s ICAC officers include:
- Luis Gerard Rivera-Sepulveda, 46, arrested April 17 in Bell County
- Dylan Hosmer, 45, arrested April 22 in Williamson County
- Joshua David Luna, 23, arrested April 23 in Uvalde County
- Kelly Shane Hopper, 31, arrested May 3 in Coryell County
- Jesus Antonio Aboytes-Mendoza, 27, arrested May 5 in Coryell County
- Joseph Allen Hosler, 26, arrested May 5 in Coryell County
- Justin Logan Perez, 21, arrested May 5 in Coryell County
- Steven Anthony Blankenship, 26, arrested May 6 in Coryell County
- Steven Lee Merrill, 34, arrested May 6 in Coryell County
- Jason Lee Smith, 34, arrested May 7 in Coryell County
- Martin Kenneth Edwards, Jr., 21, arrested May 7 in Coryell County
- Matthew John McVaney, 21, arrested May 7 in Coryell County
- Robert Thomas Duven, 51, arrested May 7 in Coryell County
- Ronald Eugene Lowrey, 44, arrested May 12 in Nueces County
- Francisco Jaczan, 47, arrested May 14 in Nueces County
- Jacob Mathew Marcum, 37, arrested May 14 in Coryell County
- Justin Benedict Morales, 40, arrested May 21 in Tom Green County
Last month, Attorney General Paxton announced its most successful joint operation to-date targeting child predators, which resulted in the arrest of nine suspected child predators following a joint sting operation between the Attorney General’s Child Exploitation Unit and the Copperas Cove Police Department.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office works to protect children by taking child predators off the Internet and putting them into jail, proactively seeking out and arresting predators who commit crimes against children using technology and the Internet. This agency utilizes the latest technology to track down some of the most profoundly evil predators on the Internet.
Paxton urges all parents and teachers to realize the risks our children face online, and take steps to help ensure their children’s safety. For more information on cyber safety, please visit the attorney general’s site.
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