DULLES, Va. — A 24-year-old Herndon man is being held without bond after he was arrested at Dulles International Airport last week. Authorities say the man was trying to flee the country while awaiting trial for sex crimes against a child.
Fairfax County Police confirmed the man arrested was Ravi Vongavolu of Herndon. Vongavolu was one of 10 alleged child predators busted last year during an online sting operation in Fairfax County.
The sting started on Dec. 18, and in each case, the offenders used internet platforms to start sexually related conversations with people they thought were minors.
Detectives posed as 13- and 14-year-old boys and girls, making it explicitly clear while undercover that they were minors. The 10 offenders arrived in Fairfax County with the intention of committing a sex act with the minor, police said, but were instead greeted by Child Exploitation Unit (CEXU) detectives and Street Crimes detectives waiting for them.
Vongavolu was arrested and charged with attempted indecent liberties and computer-solicitation of child under 15 years old.
Now, authorities say he tried to leave the country before his trial. Customs and Border Patrol Director of Field Operations Stephen Maloney announced Vongavolu's arrest at Dulles International Airport on X, formerly known as Twitter, on March 13.
Vongavolu is now being held on no bond.
The Fairfax Police Department wants to remind parents to closely monitor their children's online activities and use available security settings to prevent the use of inappropriate sites or platforms. Children should be encouraged to report any person engaging in inappropriate conversations or trying to get them to provide sexually explicit images of themselves. Click here for additional internet safety information provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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