Eight Arrested in Texas City Online Child Exploitation Sting
Eight men have been arrested and charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor – Sexual Conduct following an undercover operation conducted last week by the Texas City Police Department.
The joint operation, involving the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston-Metro ICAC Task Force, targeted individuals who used the internet to solicit minors for sexual activity.
The following suspects were arrested:
• Marcos Belarmino Rivera-Orellana, 36, of Pasadena – $100,000 bond
• Victor Rodriguez, 38, of Baytown – $150,000 bond
• Huy Phi, 30, of Webster – $80,000 bond
• Bruce Gonzalez, 43, of Alvin – $125,000 bond
• Yonatan Perez, 36, of Houston – $75,000 bond
• Ciro Urdaneta Gonzalez, 27, of Houston – $125,000 bond
• Jesus Raya, 30, of Houston – $125,000 bond
• Jose Saquic-Vasquez, 33, of Houston – $175,000 bond
In addition to the eight arrests, investigators have obtained four pending arrest warrants for the same offense. Four immigration holds were also placed on several of the suspects at the time of their arrest.
The Texas City Police Department thanked several assisting agencies, including the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Pearland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Hitchcock Police Department, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department, and the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office.
TCPD also expressed appreciation to local sponsors who supported the operation, including the TCPD Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Texas City Mexican-American Police Officers Association, Tennille Metal Works, Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, Gio’s Flying Pizza & Pasta, Texas Pit Stop BBQ, Crayon Eater Laserworks, Galveston County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Razors Edge Barbershop Galveston, and Associated Credit Union of Texas (ACU).
Texas City Police said they remain dedicated to protecting children from predators. Anyone with information about crimes against children is encouraged to contact the Texas City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at (409) 643-5720. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Mainland Communities Crime Stoppers at (409) 845-8477 or online at p3tips.com.
