MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Twenty-six men are in custody for felony offenses including online solicitation of a minor, possession of child pornography and other related charges.
The Montgomery County Internet Crime Against Children Task Force made the arrests in April, May and June as part of an internet sting operation called Operation Safe Summer. Police officers posing as children on the internet were approached by the suspects who allegedly arranged to meet them for sex.
"Every single one of these people arrested has done an act in furtherance of more than just mere communications," Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said at a press conference Wednesday. "They tried to arrange a meeting place, and showed up at that meeting place."
Ligon said the sting was undertaken in conjunction with 60 internet task forces across the nation to decrease internet predator traffic and to alert parents to know who their kids talk to online.
"Parents need to take the opportunity to learn what is Grindr, what is Tinder, what is Vine, what is Instagram, because these are devices that are being used," Ligon said, referencing several smart phone apps.
Among those arrested were Adam Hymel, who police said allegedly thought he was meeting two young girls, ages 14 and 15. Hymel is band director at Truitt Middle School in Cypress Fairbanks ISD.
The school district issued a statement about Hymel that read, "CFISD is aware of the May 2015 off-campus arrest of one of our teachers in Montgomery County. Due to the serious nature of the allegation, the teacher was immediately placed on administrative leave and did not return to the campus. Although the charges did not involve any of our students, parents of his students were notified. The safety of our students is our top priority and this type of behavior will not be tolerated."
Jay Stamper, a Houston firefighter and volunteer firefighter with the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department, was arrested June 6 and charged with online solicitation of a minor. Investigators said he thought he was meeting a teenage girl. Ligon said Stamper has been fired from both fire departments.
Printel Vellon, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice guard at the Ferguson Unit near Madisonville, is also charged with online solicitation of a minor. The TDCJ says Vellon resigned after his arrest May 21.
List of arrests and charges:
- Ricardo Yanez-Centeno, of Magnolia, Possession of Child Pornography
- Marcus Johnson, of Humble, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- John Mahler, of Humble, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Timothy Miller, of Houston, Promotion of Child Pornography
- Emery Gondamovo, of Houston, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Adnan Shroff, of Houston, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Mark Ximenez, of Spring, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Donald Ganung, of Houston, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Uriel Soriano-Morales, of Conroe, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Jerry Baty, of Porter, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Raymundo DeLeon Jr., of New Caney, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Michael Daily, of Humble, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Adam Hymel, of Cypress, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Lonnie White, of Conroe, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Richard Rees, of Conroe, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Jessie Scarborough, of Huntsville, Two Counts of Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Mark Tipton, of Stafford, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Juan Badillo, of Conroe, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Printel Vellon, of Huntsville, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Alejandro Martinez, of Conroe, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Christopher Neef, of Spring, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Klaus Riel, of Spring, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Juan Silva-Esparza, of Memphis, Tenn., Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Mendell Williams, of Katy, Online Solicitation of a Minor
- Brian Utter, of Montgomery, Possession of Child Pornography
- Jay Stamper, of Magnolia, Online Solicitation of a Minor
Adam Hymel