Online sex sting ends with five arrests after suspects target fake juveniles
COLUMBIA, Md. — Five Maryland men were arrested during a covert child exploitation operation after investigators said the suspects attempted to arrange sexual encounters with fictional juveniles online.
Howard County police announced the arrests Thursday following a multi-day undercover investigation focused on identifying people seeking to sexually exploit children.
Investigators said each suspect communicated with undercover officers through various online apps before arranging meetings at an undisclosed location in Columbia.
Police said the suspects believed they were planning sexual encounters with minors.
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Authorities identified the men as 35-year-old Andrew Scott Kraemer of Pasadena, 32-year-old Logan Proctor Ehren of Ft. Meade, 34-year-old Santos Alexi Andrade Maltez of Germantown, 29-year-old William Rodney Moser of Rocky Ridge and 29-year-old Madus R. Wijesuriya Arachchige Don of Frederick.
Each suspect was arrested at the meeting location and charged with sexual solicitation of a minor, according to police.
Howard County police said additional details about the operation are not being released at this time.
Officials said the purpose of the investigation was to target individuals attempting to exploit children and send a warning that such activity will not be tolerated in Howard County.
No additional arrests have been announced.
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Key Points
• Howard County police arrested five men during an undercover child exploitation investigation
• Investigators said the suspects arranged meetings with fictional juveniles online
• Each suspect was charged with sexual solicitation of a minor
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