Prostitution operation results in 62 arrests in Midland, Odessa

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A recent prostitution operation resulted in 62 arrests, including seven that were made in Midland for online solicitation of a minor. The other arrests from the 15-day operation were in Odessa, according to a press release received Thursday from the Odessa Police Department.

Of the arrests, there were 18 felony charges and 50 misdemeanors, according to the release. The prostitution operation — called Operation Gauntlet — used online advertisement postings, texting and phone calls during three phases. In all, undercover officials received 12,329 total incoming messages and “chatted” with 1,361 unique phone numbers.

Cpl. Steve LeSueur, public information officer for the OPD, said targeting technology isn’t new for his department.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time,” LeSueur said. “We know this is an issue. We know how these predators work. That’s what they use.”

The prostitution operation was from Feb. 16 to March 3 and included local, state and federal agencies. Among those assisting were the Midland County District Attorney’s Office, Midland Police Department, Midland Fire Department and Midland County Sheriff’s Office.

“The vast majority of arrests took place in Odessa,” LeSueur said. “But we definitely couldn’t have done it without the assistance of the MPD and the Midland County Sheriff’s Office.”

Midland County District Attorney Laura A. Nodolf said the operation was “another fine example” of law enforcement agencies collaborating in efforts to stop human trafficking and people who target minors.

Those arrested in Midland County on second-degree felony charges of online solicitation of a minor under 14 years of age were: Eduardo Galvan, 25; Wesley Nickell, 57; Alex Olivas, 38; Seth Patin, 30; Randall Sparkman, 40; David Williams, 43; and Sebastian Zapata, 22.

The arrests came after Phase One of the operation, which was a two-day child predator sting. Undercover “chatters” posted online advertisements and communicated while posing as 13-year-old females. They responded to 6,095 incoming messages from 330 unique phone numbers during that part of the operation, according to the press release.

Sgt. Steven Sanders, who oversees the Crimes Against Persons Unit of the MPD, said the department agreed to be involved in Operation Gauntlet because it wants to get child predators off the street. He encourages parents to be vigilant with their kids’ online activities.

“Children who have electronic devices, who can access the internet, need to be monitored closely,” he said.

Later in the operation, phases two and three also involved online postings and undercover phone communication.

In another part of Phase Three, undercover officers posed as human trafficking buyers in an effort to rescue victims and as human trafficking victims in an attempt to be solicited for sexual conduct. Law enforcement officials also conducted a search warrant at the Lucky Spa massage parlor after an undercover officer was solicited, according to the press release.

The three phases resulted in Odessa arrests for felony charges of prostitution – enhanced, aggravated promotion of prostitution, sexual performance of a minor under 14 years of age and prostitution – solicit person under the age of 18, according to the press release.

Misdemeanor charges included prostitution and display of harmful material to a minor. There was one outstanding warrant for the latter charge, according to information provided to the Reporter-Telegram.

Other agencies assisting with Operation Gauntlet included Texas Department of Public Safety, Andrews Police Department, Abilene Police Department, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

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Phase One was a child predator sting over the course of two days. The suspects are listed below:

Online Solicitation of a minor under age 14, 2nd Degree Felony

Sebastian Zapata, 22

Eduardo Galvan, 25

Randall Sparkman, 40 (Sparkman is a registered sex offender.)

Alex Olivas, 38

Seth Patin, 30

David Williams, 43

Wesley Nickell, 57

Sexual performance of a minor under age 14, 1st Degree Felony

Osvaldo Sifuentes, 46

James Lambert, 23

Display harmful material to a minor, Class A Misdemeanor

Juan Raigoza, 24

Phase Two sting focused on buyers. The suspects are listed below:

Prostitution, Class B Misdemeanor

Robert Loysoya, 59

Johnny Bryant, 31

Cody Pendergrass, 31

Jonathon Kirkman, 46

German Ortega-Ortega, 30

Omar Reyna, 43

Eduardo Ibanez, 31

Sterling Fincher, 26

Nikolos Robinson, 37

Raefael Hernandez, 43

Stephan Punch, 51

Ariel Portillo, 25

Fabian Hernandez, 34

Aram Barrios-Hernandez, 42

Oludayo Olanyinka, 37

Jared Cunnigham, 34

Bill Oneal, 45

Jason Page, 44

Daniel Okunola, 39

Brandon Moore, 31

Aaron Mata, 26

Raymundo Gonzalez, 43

Luis Casas Jr, 25

Timothy Hicks, 45

Kurtis Shaw, 18

Stanley Daniel, 21

Prostitution Solicit Person under the age of 18, 2nd Degree Felony

Alfredo Garcia, 25

Eric Gesch, 43

Christian Love, 21

Alex Brito, 27

Peyton Coffman, 24

Phase Three involved human trafficking victim recovery and a buyer sting. The suspects are listed below:

Prostitution, Class B Misdemeanor

Patricia Chapman, 46

Ashley Hernandez, 24

Kami Martinez, 19

Alexus Phillips, 22

Kalleigh Tyler, 25)

Dwight Thomas, 28

Keith Davidson, 48

Hamza Kechah, 38

Ahlieya Caudillo, 19

Adrianna Alcorta, 22

Jasmine Miles, 18

Tashonda Caraway, 22

Tiara Runels, 24

Desirey Carrizales, 22

Young Yu, 49

Prostitution, Class A Misdemeanor

Rachel Tate, 31

Prostitution - Enhanced, State Jail Felony

Ding Bing, 52

Prostitution solicit person under the age of 18, 2nd Degree Felony

Lloyd David, 28

Aggravated promotion of prostitution, 2nd Degree Felony