A recent multi-agency investigation in Forsyth County resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects for sexual crimes against children, with arrest warrants pending for five additional suspects.
According to a press release from the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, the agency was assisted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Alpharetta Police Department, Forsyth County District Attorney's Office and U.S. Department of Homeland Security during Operation Masquerade.
The operation focused on the arrest of suspects that "prey on juveniles online and solicit them for sex," according to the release.
The 11 suspects who were arrested during the three-day operation include the following:
- Carlos Ortiz-Penado aka “Rafael”, 37, of Gainesville. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor and Trafficking of Persons for Labor or Sex
- Salvador Alejandro Vazquez aka “Salva”, 33, of Lawrenceville. Charged with Child Molestation and Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor
- The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said he claimed to be a missionary from Guatemala selling bibles in the United States legally.
- Erick Rafael Garban-Ochoa, 31, of Stone Mountain. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor.
- The agency said he was an illegal resident from Venezuela. He claimed he crossed the border illegally 1 month 14 days before this arrest
- Tucker Pigott, 29, of Cumming. Charged with Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor and Trafficking of Persons for Labor or Sex
- Srinath Banothu, 28, of Waleska. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor
- Cody Wood, 33, of Dahlonega. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor and Trafficking of Persons for Labor or Sex
- Israel Ibarra-Hinojosa, 30, of Ringold. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor
- Tahir Taylor, 24, of Loganville. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor
- Peter Heintz 39, of Marietta. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor and Computer Crime: Obscene Internet Contact with a Minor
- Brett DelRosso, 33, of Woodstock. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor and Hold for Cherokee County
- Michael Kinser, 29, of Lilburn. Charged with Computer Crime: Illegal Solicitation, Entice or Seduce a Minor, Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device and Fleeing or Attempting to Elude
- In 2014 he was convicted in Florida for Traveling to Meet a Minor to Commit Unlawful Sexual Offense, Use of Computer to Solicit or Lure a Child to Engage in Sexual Conduct and Send Minor Harmful Info. He was required to register as a sex offender in Florida.
Warrants are pending for the arrest of five additional people for obscene internet contact with a minor.
Operation Masquerade is the second operation of this type in the county. Operation Just Cause led to the arrest of 24 people in 2019 for similar charges. All 24 of those have either entered guilty pleas or were convicted.
“Endanger our children in Forsyth County and you will find out what jail and no bond looks like," Sheriff Ron Freeman said. "I am very proud of our Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and appreciate the unwavering support of our partner agencies during this operation. Simple message here ... you want to harm a child? Not in Forsyth County! This is a wake-up call for all our parents. Make sure you know your child’s online activity. There are predators waiting to do harm if they have the opportunity.“
