HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Friday that eight people have been arrested following a joint operation between the Attorney General’s Child Exploitation Unit and the Victoria Police Department.
"Today, we can say the eight individuals who have been arrested no longer pose a threat to the children of Texas," Paxton said. "Unfortunately, the dangers of the world can infiltrate any home via computers, tablets, or even a phone. I am grateful for the individuals working in our Child Exploitation Unit and the dedicated law enforcement officials they work with to bring individuals like these to justice."
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The operation targeted child predators who use the Internet to sexually solicit and then travel with the intent of committing sex crimes against a minor, officials said.
The eight people were arrested when they arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Victoria. They have been charged with online solicitation of a minor.
Here are the eight people who were arrested (pictured above):
- Joe Angel Lopez, 41, of Victoria (top left)
- Cedric Rene Ramirez, 18, of Victoria (top, second from left)
- Mark Edward Lemke, 37, of Victoria (top, second from right)
- Alfonso Enrique Estraca, 32, of Victoria (top right)
- Alfredo Serna, Jr., 45, of Port Lavaca (bottom left)
- Jeffrey Davis Campbell, Jr., 29, of Austin (bottom, second from left)
- Jorge Luis Santillan, 39, of Corpus Christi (bottom, second from right)
- Terry Dewayne Matula, 32, of Bloomington (bottom right)