FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Five men have been arrested after a multi-day operation to bring down online predators, the Fairfax County Police Department announced on Wednesday.
The police department says they just wrapped up their four-day operation done by their Major Crimes Bureau Child Exploitation Unit (CEXU). They worked to uncover people who use internet platforms to initiate sexual talks with individuals they believed to be under 18. Those people then came to Fairfax County with the intention of committing a sex act with the minor, but instead found detectives waiting for them.
The five men ranged in age from 24 to 53 and were charged with a total of 12 felonies.
According to police, here are the charges they are facing:
- Steven Morales, 30, of Woodbridge was arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties with a minor.
- Karl Frey, 53, of Maryland was arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties with a minor.
- Joseph Nandigam, 24, of Fairfax was arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties with a minor.
- Adeel Chughtai, 30, of Lorton was arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor.
- Byron Crawford, 26, of Maryland, was arrested and charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor and three counts of distribution of child pornography.
The police department is also reminding parents to monitor their children's online activities and use available security settings to prevent inappropriate sites. Click here for internet safety information provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. If you suspect inappropriate photos of your child have been posted online, go here for more information on how to get them taken down.
Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding these crime or similar ones to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-8477.
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