ABILENE, Texas — According to an Abilene Police Department press release, special agents and detectives involved in an undercover operation in Abilene arrested 29 men who used public web pages, internet sites and social media applications to exploit minors.
The Abilene Police Department’s Cyber Crimes Unit, Fraud Unit and Special Operations Division, in collaboration from the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division and the U.S. Marshal’s Service conducted the investigation in mid-March. Thirty individuals from in and around the Abilene area showed up to arranged meetings with alleged minor children to sexually exploit them. In all, 29 offenders were arrested and one is pending arrest warrants.
The arrested individuals and charges are:
Virgil Perkins, 65, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Michael Knapp, 48, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Roberto Morales, 20, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Kenneth Kocher, 54, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Michael Dawson, 41, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor (out on bond for sexual assault)
Clinton Lundy, 20, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Caleb Johnson, 19, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Geoffrey Hupp, 43, of Midland - online solicitation of a minor and possession of child pornography
Morgan Layton, 41, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor under the age of 14
Hector Gloria, 20, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Jose Calzoncinth, 25, of San Angelo - online solicitation of a minor
Conor Yerby, 26, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Elijah Ojeda, 23, of Midland - online solicitation of a minor
Michael Hawley, 33, of Sweetwater - online solicitation of a minor
Rufus Smith, 20, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor under the age of 14
Jose Gonzales, 21, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Joseph Mitchell, 20, of Abilene - online solicitation of a minor
Anyone with information on these individuals is asked to contact the Abilene Police Department at 325-673-8331 or visit abilenepolice.org.
