Fairfax County, VA – A proactive enforcement operation led by the Fairfax County Police Department’s Major Crimes Bureau’s Child Exploitation Unit (CEXU) resulted in the arrest of nine men, the majority of whom traveled to Fairfax County intending to engage in criminal encounters with minors.

During the online operation, detectives posed as juveniles to identify individuals using internet platforms to initiate sexually explicit conversations with children.

The offenders, believing they were meeting a child in Fairfax County for a sexual encounter, were met by detectives from the Violent Crimes Suppression Unit (VCS) and CEXU. The nine men arrested ranged in age from 21 to 48 and collectively face 20 criminal charges.

  1. Jonathan William Carter, 29, of Statesville, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with Solicitation of a Minor. He was released on a $5,000 secured bond.
  2. Ammar Ezzulddin Alhafidh, 48, of Ashburn, was arrested and charged with Solicitation of a Minor and Procuring a Minor for Prostitution. He is being held without bond.
  3. Carlos Navarrete Campos, 42, of Manassas, was arrested and charged with Solicitation of a Minor and Procuring a Minor for Prostitution. He was released on a $1,500 secured bond.
  4. Favio Daniel Sejas Escobar, 44, of Springfield, was arrested and charged with Solicitation of a Minor. He was released on a $1,500 secured bond.
  5. Henry Flores Herrera, 39, of Alexandria, was arrested and charged with Solicitation of a Minor and Solicitation of a Minor for Prostitution. He was released on a $5,000 secured bond.
  6. Joshua Paul Blochowicz, 41, of Stafford, was arrested and charged with three counts of Solicitation of a Minor and Attempted Indecent Liberties with a Minor. He was released on a $5,000 secured bond.
  7. Rashad Taheem Norris, 32, of Woodbridge, was arrested and charged with Solicitation of a Minor and Attempted Indecent Liberties with a Minor. He was held on no bond.
  8. Reyben Sanchez Hernandez, 21, of Reston, was arrested and charged with Solicitation of a Minor, Procuring a Minor for Prostitution, and Driving on a Suspended License. He was released on a $3,000 secured bond.
  9. Wilmer Aguilar Cruz, 28, of Woodbridge, was arrested and charged with two counts of Solicitation of a Minor and Attempted Indecent Liberties with a Minor. He was released on a $3,000 secured bond.

Predators often use a variety of online applications and platforms to contact potential victims. Parents are encouraged to closely monitor their children’s online activity and use available security settings to limit access to inappropriate sites or platforms and maintain open conversations with their children about the risks these platforms may pose. Children should be encouraged to report anyone engaging in inappropriate conversations or attempting to coerce them into providing sexually explicit images. Additional internet safety information provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children can be found HERE.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents or others with a similar nexus 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-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you. 

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