Human trafficking sting results in 8 arrests on charges of soliciting minors for sex

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (WTVD) -- Law enforcement is warning parents to be vigilant after a recent arrest of eight people they say are connected to a child sex predator and human trafficking sting.

According to the Wake Forest Police Department, eight people from different parts of central North Carolina were arrested in the multi-jurisdiction undercover operation. Wake Forest Police Department and Wake County Sheriff's Office were the lead agencies during the November 12-15 sting.

Suspects were arrested after investigators said they solicited undercover officers, who posed as juveniles, for sex or other purposes. The undercover officers and the suspects agreed on a meet-up location, and investigators arrested the suspects when they arrived.

Investigators said this sort of crime is something they appear to be seeing more frequently.

"The things that surprise me -- some of the backgrounds of some of the individuals. They have families. Some are married. Some are involved in the community," Sergeant David Bradford said.

The eight suspects facing charges are:

• Rosendo Benitez Rodriguez, 26 of Raleigh, he's charged with attempted statutory rape and solicitation of a child by computer.
• Romael Eliberto Morales-Escobar, 25, of Apex, is charged with attempted statutory rape and solicitation of a child by computer.
• Mahdi Sarbedar, 33, of Raleigh is charged with attempted statutory rape and solicitation of a child by computer
• Ramon Ayala Mendoza, 41, of Chapel Hill, is charged with attempted statutory rape, attempted statutory sex offense, and solicitation of a child by computer
• Valentin Cruz-Salazar, 39, of Raleigh is charged with attempted statutory rape and solicitation of a child by computer
• Brian Deshawn Mobley, 51, of Middlesex is charged with attempted statutory rape and solicitation of a child by computer
• Alejandro Sean Colon, 22, of Spring Lake is charged with attempted statutory rape, attempted statutory sex offense, indecent liberties with a child, and solicitation of a child by computer
• Faud Hossain, 26, of Durham, is charged with attempted statutory rape, attempted statutory sex offense, and solicitation of a child by computer

Police officials are urging parents to monitor their children's social media and computer use, as that's a common way predators contact children.

"Snapchat, Instagram, Discord, Facebook -- all the major platforms are a big source of concern for child predators targeting children for sure," Bradford said.

SEE ALSO | 7 arrested in connection to human trafficking in Cumberland County

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