Miami-Dade Police Arrest Ten People For Sexually Exploiting Children Online
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The arrests were made as part of an initiative to combat the distribution and promotion of online sexual exploitation of children.
Those arrested range in age from 14-years-old to 67-years-old.
According to Miami-Dade police, preliminary forensic examination of electronic devices have revealed over 100,000 images and videos of child pornography with victims as young as three to nine months old. Police remind the public behind every picture or video, there's a victim.
"They figure or because it's only pictures they figure there's no victims here," said Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta. "All they're doing is watching pictures and videos, well those pictures had to come from somewhere and at one point there was a victim or there is a victim."
During the six-month investigation, detectives served numerous search warrants, subpoenas and preservation letters.
"Individuals who are looking at child pornography of a 3 to 9-month-old baby, with explicit acts, sexual acts to a nine-month-old? A 3-month-old? That's something that's repulsive. That's something we can't tolerate. We definitely need to put a stop to this," said Detective Zabaleta.
Those arrested are James Abravaya, 57, Dionte Black, 19, Antonio Byrd, 28, James Chatelian, 23, Taylor Dansby, 21, Jorge Gomez-Hernandez, 34, Yenray Pereira, 37, a minor aged 14, Carlos Amasifuen, 18, and Matthew Grenet, 23.
The charges range from Sexual Performance by a Child Possession, Transmission of Material Harmful to Minors, Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a Child, Distribution of Obscene to a Minor, Attempted Sexual Activity with a Specified Minor, Computer Services Certain Uses Prohibited, and Sexual Performance by a Child Promote.
CBS4 spoke to the 14 year old who was arrested.
He's accused of viewing child porn involving infants as young as 3 months old.
"The allegations are pretty serious that it was some pretty young children," said CBS 4's Ted Scouten. "Ya," the suspect responded.
"Anything you can tell us about that?" Scouten asked. "No comment," he said.
The arrests were made following a six-month investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department Special Victims Bureau, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, along with Homeland Security, the City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims. If you have any information please contact the Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477) or (866) 471-8477.
You can also visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip"
Send a text message to 274637. Enter CSMD followed by the tip information and press send.
