NEVADA – During a two-day operation in Sparks to target sex purchases and other offenses involving sexual exploitation, eighteen persons were arrested.

The multi-agency operation took place on December 15 and 16. The operation’s purpose was to target sex purchasers who attempted to buy sex from both adults and juveniles, as well as those attempting to participate in sexual activity with minors. People approached detectives through various online platforms, and during their talks, the suspects agreed to engage in sexual activities with the undercover cops.

Law enforcement contacted and detained 18 people who came at the meet place throughout the operation. Twelve persons were arrested for misdemeanor solicitation of an adult for prostitution, and two of them were charged with a felony as well. Six persons were arrested on felony charges after they attempted to engage in sexual conduct with someone they thought was a minor.

The following people have been arrested for criminal offenses:

Daniel Mariscal

• Luring of a Child (2)
• Attempted Statutory Sexual Seduction
• Attempted Child Abuse

Vijaykrishna Merugu

• Assault with Deadly Weapon of Protected Person
• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Brandon Carr

• Solicit a Child for Prostitution
• Attempted Child Abuse

Jeff Storey

• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Dennis Boholano

• Solicit a Child for Prostitution
• Attempted Child Abuse

Jay Russell

• Luring of a Child
• Attempted Statutory Sexual Seduction
• Attempted Child Abuse

Jason Smith

• Solicit a Child for Prostitution
• Luring Child by Computer
• Attempted Child Abuse
• Attempted Statutory Sexual Seduction
• Attempted Use of a Child 14 or Older as a Subject of Sexual Portrayal
• Possession of Controlled Substance
• Possession for Sales
• Sales of a Controlled Substance

Daniel Edmonds

• Luring of a Child
• Attempted Statutory Sexual Seduction
• Attempted Kidnapping
• Attempted Child Abuse
• Misdemeanor Arrests:

Danyal Sayed Ali

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Sergio Diaz-Alvarado

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Jobin Nash

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Blake Caranza-Aquil

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution x2
• Obstructing and Resisting

Bahram Solman

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Carlos Gomez-Ygomez

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Sabino Rosales

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Daniel Bonilla

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Edward Swainston

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Jose Gomez

• Customer solicit/ engage in prostitution

Detectives from Reno, Sparks, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office make up the Regional HEAT Unit. Anyone with information about sex trafficking or prostitution should call HEAT at 775-325-6470.

Personnel from the regional Human Exploitation and Trafficking (H.E.A.T) unit, the Sparks Police Department, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the FBI Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force, the University of Nevada Police Department – Northern Command, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County School District Police, the Regimental Police, the Regimental Police, the Regimental Police

Credits: My News 4