A recent child predator sting operation led to the arrest of 10 men in Albuquerque, the New Mexico Department of Justice reported.
The New Mexico Department of Justice arrested 10 men in the Albuquerque metro area as part of Operation Midnight Harvest, an undercover sting conducted October 15-17 targeting individuals who allegedly attempted to meet children contacted online. Investigators used fake identities and decoy accounts, involving no real children, and were led by the ICAC Unit with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies.
Each defendant faces a third-degree felony charge of child solicitation by electronic communication device, with one also facing a misdemeanor charge for resisting an officer. The suspects, ranging in age from 20 to 41, came from various locations including Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Colorado Springs, and New Jersey.
Dubbed Operation Midnight Harvest, the undercover effort ran from October 15 to 17. The NMDOJ said investigators targeted people who allegedly attempted to meet children they had contacted online in the metro area.
Investigators used fake online identities and monitored conversations on digital platforms, according to authorities. They focused on those where they believed unlawful activity was happening.
The NMDOJ said investigators did not involve any real children in the operation. Instead, the agency created decoy accounts to communicate with suspects.
“We are going to do everything in our power to make kids safer online and Operation Midnight Harvest is just the latest example of our commitment to tracking down predators in New Mexico and holding them accountable,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement.
According to NMDOJ data, each defendant faces a third-degree felony charge of child solicitation by electronic communication device. One defendant also faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer.
The agency’s Special Investigations Bureau’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit led the operation. Several other agencies assisted the team. These included the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Santa Fe Police Department and Edgewood Police Department.
Who Are the 10 Men Arrested?
The NMDOJ listed the suspects, their photos, and the charges they face on its website:
- Adan Rendon – 40 years old, Albuquerque (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
- David Bernardino Hernandez – 27 years old, Colorado Springs, CO (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
- Edgar Federico – 29 years old, Albuquerque (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
- Ethan McMains – 22 years old, Rio Rancho (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
- Frank Scott Baca – 31 years old, Los Lunas (child solicitation, third-degree felony; misdemeanor over resisting, evading or obstructing an officer)
- Gilberto Rivas – 31 years old, Los Lunas (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
- Josiah Micah Josh – 20 years old , Albuquerque (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
- Marlon Ariel Simon Muñoz – 32 years old, New Jersey (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
- Rony Jimenez – 31 years old , Albuquerque (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
- Shawn Yabeny – 41 years old, Albuquerque (child solicitation, third-degree felony)
