HOUSTON – Thirteen men were arrested as investigators wrapped up a two-month operation called Operation Broken Heart, which was aimed at catching predators attempting to have sex with children they met online.
The following men were charged with online solicitation of a minor, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison, and attempted sexual assault of a child, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison:
• Alfonso Salinas, 23, of Houston
• Levi James, 36, of Louisiana
• Mario Lopez, 25, of Houston
• Juan Pena, 42, a registered sex offender from Houston
• Roydell Cleaver, 66, of Houston
• Quincy Milton, 25, of Richmond
• Dennis Pineda, 28, of Humble
• Jonathan Lucio, 30, of Rosenberg
• Raul Garcia, 20, of Wharton
• Adrian Botello, 19, of Houston
• Jacob Payne, 24, of Houston
• Justin Miles, 28, of Houston
• Michel Rodriguez, 27, of Cypress
PHOTOS: Predators targeting children arrested in Operation Broken Heart
The operation was led by the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and included officers from the Sugar Land Police Department, the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, the Rosenberg Police Department, the Katy Independent School District Police Department, the Houston Police Department, Harris County Constable Precinct 1, the Webster Police Department, the Katy Police Department and the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations also participated, according to a news release.
Three men were charged with the possession, promotion or distribution of child pornography. They are Brandon Brewster, 28, of Richmond; Robert Haney, 48, of Houston; and Nathan Potter, 31, of Huntsville.
Task force officers engaged with the suspects online via social media. Investigators were able to direct the men to a location at which they were arrested.
