9 arrested in Huntsville child predator sting operation

Nine people, including seven from Alabama, are facing nearly 40 criminal charges after being arrested during a two-day joint operation targeting child predators in Huntsville.

The operation was led by the Huntsville Police Department in collaboration with other agencies. The sting occurred on Thursday and Friday.

The offenders solicited and targeted decoys they believed to be minors via chat rooms, social media platforms and other online portals, authorities said. Each offender agreed to pay for sexual acts with minors and traveled to designated locations in Huntsville to commit crimes.

• The following were arrested:
• Floyd Corey Powell Jr., 31, Harvest; first-degree human trafficking, distribute/transmit obscene material to a child by an electronic device, electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
• Shivam Patel, 23, Muscle Shoals; two counts of first-degree human trafficking, two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and two counts of electronic solicitation of a child.
• Michael John Finks, 53, Somerville; first-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
• Michael Anthony Stevens, 33, Albertville; two counts of first-degree human trafficking, two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and two counts of electronic solicitation of a child.
• Julio Tomas Juan, 22, Decatur; first-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
• Elmer Geovany Sarmiento, 32, Huntsville; first-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
• Bryan Tse Nde, 27, Huntsville; first-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
• Marco Elias, 31, Gulfport, Texas; two counts of first-degree human trafficking, two counts of electronic solicitation of a child and two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
• Gilmar Aralto Elias Huniac, 45, Carthage, Mo.; first-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.

Huntsville police say the investigation is active and additional charges may be added. Agencies collaborating with police on the crackdown included the Madison County District Attorney’s Office, Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, and Covenant Rescue Group.

Additional information including arrest details and photographs are available on the Madison County Sheriff’s Office website.

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