The Fort Worth Police Department executed a multi-agency operation targeting online predators, resulting in the arrest of eleven men attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors.
The sting, nicknamed by law enforcement as ‘Operation Heatwave,’ captured predators by going undercover.
Undercover agents from local, state, and federal agencies communicated across various online platforms with suspects attempting to engage in sexual conduct with children.
Those arrested include:
- Alexis Javier Sanchez Monreal, 25, of Dallas
- Anthony Harold Knox, 56, of Fort Worth
- Cesar Ignacio Hernandez Perez, 31, of Arlington
- Craig Bridgland, 42, of Brisbane, Australia
- Daniel Carlos Ramos, 40, of Fort Worth
- Donte Tejuan Zachary, 44, of Fort Worth
- Jonathan Hayden Pond, 33, of Fort Worth
- Jose Luis Estrada Jr., 42, of Krum
- Joseph Thomas Milarski, 21, of Bedford
- Ralph Edward Hoskins, 32, of Arlington
- Todd Brian Behney, 53, of Fort Worth
“We want to send a clear message: we will not tolerate any attempt to harm our children. The Fort Worth Police Department, alongside our dedicated partners, will continue to use every resource at our disposal to target and bring these offenders to justice,” said Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes. “I want to thank all the officers and agents involved in this operation for their hard work and dedication.”
The operation was a combined effort of the Fort Worth PD, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Divison, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Haltom City PD, North Richland Hills PD, Irving PD, Keller PD, Mansfield PD, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Five different units within Fort Worth PD assisted in the sting: the Internet Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Unit, Directed Response Unit, Intelligence Unit, Real-Time Crime Center, and the Electronic Surveillance Unit.
Dallas has been struggling with the illegal sex trade, particularly in Northwest Dallas, where dozens of pimps, prostitutes, and johns can be seen walking the streets at any given time, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
A significant shortage of police resources is leaving some communities vulnerable to sex trafficking. With only around 3,000 officers employed, Dallas is short the 4,000 a prior City analysis determined was needed to police the jurisdiction adequately.
Relatedly, the Dallas City Council approved a budget of only $654 million for DPD in fiscal year 2023-2024, far less taxpayer money directed to public safety than in other high-crime jurisdictions.