Police: 'Operation Broken Heart' nabs 13 Houston-area online predators

The Sugar Land Police Department department recently announced that it had arrested 13 men who they said attempted to have sex with children.

Click through to view the mugshots and names of the accused online predators. less

Click through to view the mugshots and names of the accused online ... more The Sugar Land Police Department department recently announced that it had arrested 13 men who they said attempted to have sex with children. Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Police: 'Operation Broken Heart' nabs 13 Houston-area online predators 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

On Tuesday, the Sugar Land Police Department announced it had arrested 13 men whom they said attempted to have sex with children they met online.

Dubbed "Operation Broken Heart," the two-month operation, which took place in April and May, was conducted in concert with several other Houston-area police departments and federal law enforcement agencies.

"Task force officers engage in communication with suspects using social media websites accessible to adults and children," detailed a news release by the city of Sugar Land. "Through online communication, officers were able to direct suspects attempting to engage in sexual contact with children to another location where the online predators were arrested."

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In total, 13 men ranging between the ages of 19 and 66 were arrested and charged with online solicitation of a minor and attempted sexual assault of a child. Three of the accused men were also arrested on charges relating to the possession, promotion or distribution of child pornography.

"It is a very serious offense and is something our entire community and Houston Metro region should be coordinated against," said Sugar Land Police Chief Doug Brinkley at a press conference Wednesday. "Especially against our children, who are most helpless more than anything else."

According to authorities, online solicitation of a minor is a second-degree felony and may be punished by two to 20 years in prison while attempted sexual assault of a child is a third-degree felony and is punishable by two to 10 years in prison.

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"Operation Broken Heart" was a nationwide effort involving more than 4,500 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and resulted in over 1,000 arrests, according to Sgt. Matt Levan with the Sugar Land Police Department.

In the Houston area, the task force conducted 151 investigations, made 105 arrests, received 569 cyber tips, identified five child victims, issued 153 subpoenas and served 58 search warrants, Levan said.

The Sugar Land PD teamed up with the Fort Bend County District Attorney, Rosenberg Police Department, Katy ISD Police Department, the Houston Police Department, the Harris County Constable Precinct 1 office, Katy Police Department, the Chambers County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security to make the arrests.

Levan said law enforcement on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are working every day on similar cases.

"The work never stops," he said. Levan encouraged parents to be vigilant in monitoring their children's use of the Internet and social media.

Click through to view the mugshots and names of the accused online predators.