Latest news with #LosAngelesRegionalInternetCrimesAgainstChildrenTaskForce
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Operation Spring Cleaning: 265 arrested, 27 children rescued in SoCal online child exploitation crackdown
The Brief A massive multi-agency crackdown resulted in the arrest of 265 people across Southern California for internet-related crimes against kids. During the operation, police said 27 kids who were "entangled in exploitative crimes" were rescued. Law enforcement conducted "Operation Spring Cleaning" between April 6 and April 19. It was led by the LAPD. LOS ANGELES - Over 260 people were arrested during a major operation targeting internet-related crimes against youth in Southern California. What we know Dubbed "Operation Spring Cleaning," the sweep was carried out between April 6 and April 19 by the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is led by the Los Angeles Police Department. Over 100 law enforcement agencies across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties were involved in the operation. According to LAPD, the operation was aimed at identifying and arresting child predators who use the internet to exploit children. During the operation, police were able to safely rescue 27 kids who were "entangled in exploitative crimes." Dig deeper Police said officers worked undercover on various social media platforms, then served warrants in all five counties targeting suspects accused of distributing child sexual abuse materials, online exploitation, and other crimes against children. Of the 265 people arrested, many "held positions of trust within their communities," police said. "Several of those taken into custody held roles that placed them in direct contact with children or carried significant community trust," according to police. "These arrests underscore the importance of vigilance and cross-agency collaboration in safeguarding children from individuals who use their trusted positions to exploit and harm the most vulnerable." The suspects were held on a number of charges, including possession, production or distribution of child sexual abuse material, sending obscene matter to a child, lewd acts with a child, attempting to contact a minor for sex, human trafficking, indecent exposure, child annoying and failure to register as a convicted sex offender. What you can do Police said the task force has also worked to provide internet safety training to about 1,000 parents and children, "empowering families with tools and knowledge to stay safe online." Residents are urged to visit for tips on internet safety.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
30-year-old Instagram user charged with luring minors with drugs and alcohol for sex
Investigators are asking for the public's help in finding additional victims who may have been in contact with a 30-year-old man accused of sexually abusing children he met through Instagram. Burbank police arrested Ivan Hernandez, from Valley Village, on March 23 after receiving a tip and conducting an investigation into suspected drug activity. Authorities said in a news release Thursday that Hernandez was found in his vehicle with an underage girl. He was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and being in possession of nitrous oxide. Detectives learned that Hernandez was supplying nitrous oxide, marijuana and alcohol to underage girls in exchange for sexual acts, according to police. Hernandez is believed to have recorded the sexual assaults on his phone and managed to lure his victims over Instagram with the promise of providing them drugs and alcohol for sex, investigators said. According to police, Hernandez's Instagram handles include "noznbars," "n2ohead," "nawzhead818," "nozzhead_818," and "nozzhead818_" and they believe there could be more victims. On March 25, he was charged with multiple felonies, including three counts of unlawful sex with a minor under 16, two counts of arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes and one count each of child endangerment, oral copulation of a minor under 16, lewd lascivious acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old, and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to police. He is being held without bail and scheduled to appear in court on May 21. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, according to court records. Anyone with information about Hernandez and any other similar incidents can contact the Burbank Police Department at (818) 238-3210. The police investigation was done in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations under the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
02-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
30-year-old Instagram user charged with luring underage users for sex with drugs and alcohol
Investigators are asking for the public's help in finding additional victims who may have been in contact with a 30-year-old man accused of sexually abusing children he met through Instagram. Burbank police arrested Ivan Hernandez, from Valley Village, on March 23 after receiving a tip and conducting an investigation into suspected drug activity. Authorities said in a news release Thursday that Hernandez was found in his vehicle with an underage girl. He was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and being in possession of nitrous oxide. Detectives learned that Hernandez was supplying nitrous oxide, marijuana and alcohol to underage girls in exchange for sexual acts, according to police. Hernandez is believed to have recorded the sexual assaults on his phone and managed to lure his victims over Instagram with the promise of providing them drugs and alcohol for sex, investigators said. According to police, Hernandez's Instagram handles include 'noznbars,' 'n2ohead,' 'nawzhead818,' 'nozzhead_818,' and 'nozzhead818_' and they believe there could be more victims. On March 25, he was charged with multiple felonies, including three counts of unlawful sex with a minor under 16, two counts of arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes and one count each of child endangerment, oral copulation of a minor under 16, lewd lascivious acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old, and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to police. He is being held without bail and scheduled to appear in court on May 21. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, according to court records. Anyone with information about Hernandez and any other similar incidents can contact the Burbank Police Department at (818) 238-3210. The Burbank Police Department's investigation was done in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations under the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
