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Child sex predator, human trafficking case in North Carolina ends with eight people arrested for soliciting undercover officers
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Child sex predator, human trafficking case in North Carolina ends with eight people arrested for soliciting undercover officers

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (WTVD) — Law enforcement is warning parents to be vigilant after a recent arrest of eight people they say is linked to a child sex predator and human trafficking.

Eight people from various parts of central North Carolina were arrested during the multi-jurisdictional undercover operation, according to Wake Forest police. The Wake Forest Police Department and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office were the lead agencies during the sting from Nov. 12 to 15.

Suspects were arrested after investigators said they solicited undercover officers posing as minors for sex or other purposes. The undercover officers and the suspects agreed on a meeting location and investigators arrested the suspects when they arrived.

Investigators said these types of crimes are something they seem to be seeing more often.

“The things that surprise me – some of the backgrounds of some of the individuals. They have families. Some are married. Some are involved in the community,” said Sergeant David Bradford.

The eight suspects being prosecuted are:

  • Rosendo Benitez Rodriguez, 26, of Raleigh, is charged with attempted rape and soliciting a child by computer.
  • Romael Eliberto Morales-Escobar, 25, of Apex, is charged with attempted rape and soliciting a child by computer.
  • Mahdi Sarbedar, 33, of Raleigh is charged with attempted rape and soliciting a child by computer
  • Ramon Ayala Mendoza, 41, of Chapel Hill, is charged with attempted rape, attempted sex offense and computer solicitation of a child
  • Valentin Cruz-Salazar, 39, of Raleigh is charged with attempted rape and computer solicitation
  • Brian Deshawn Mobley, 51, of Middlesex is charged with attempted rape and soliciting a child by computer
  • Alejandro Sean Colon, 22, of Spring Lake, is charged with attempted rape, attempted sex offense, indecent liberties with a child and solicitation of a child by computer
  • Faud Hossain, 26, of Durham, is charged with attempted rape, attempted sexual offense and soliciting a child by computer

Police officials are urging parents to monitor their children’s social media and computer use, as that is a common way predators contact children.

“Snapchat, Instagram, Discord, Facebook – all the major platforms are a major source of concern for child predators who certainly target children,” Bradford said.

SEE ALSO | 7 arrested in connection with human trafficking in Cumberland County

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