Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 | 6:20 p.m.
A multi-agency operation targeting online child-sex predators yielded nine arrests this week, according to Metro Police.
Members of Metro’s Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, along with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the FBI’s Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force participated in the two-day sting, Metro said in a release. The task forces are made up of detectives and agents from Metro, North Las Vegas and Henderson police departments, the FBI, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
Undercover agents and detectives posed as juveniles online, police said. After being solicited for sex by the suspects, a meeting was set up and they were taken into custody on Wednesday and Thursday.
The following were arrested and have appearances scheduled in Las Vegas Justice Court, according to online records:
• Sheldon Young, 28; has a status check on Jan. 6.
• Guadalupe Bencomo, 47; has a status check on Jan. 6.
• Kody Pore, 24; has a status check on Tuesday.
• Thuan Hong, 35; has a status check on Jan. 11.
• Jake Crawford, 50; has a status check on Tuesday.
• Fredy Castillo, 26; has a status check on Tuesday.
• Kyle Stoltz, 42; has a status check on Tuesday.
• Nathan Bruin, 39; has a status check on Jan. 11.
• Eric Ruiz, 23; has a status check on Tuesday.
Each suspect was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on counts of luring a minor with a computer to engage in sex, according to the release. Police said they’re urging parents to regularly monitor their children’s activity online to prevent them from becoming targets of child predators.
Anyone with additional information, or with tips regarding other potential offenders, are asked to call 702-828-3111. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555, or go online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
