SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Eleven people are facing serious charges tonight after getting caught in an online sex sting.
It was conducted last month over a six day period in Sioux Falls and involved several state, local, and federal agencies; including Homeland Security.
KELOLAND Investigates has gone undercover for previous stories with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
We were at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally last year when investigators went undercover and pretended to be young boys and girls online.
Some of those agents, along with many others, were a part of this latest online sex sting.
“Generally these individuals are caught attempting to entice minors using the internet, because they are in chat rooms, they are on social media seeking out underage kids, usually 12 or 13-year-old girls,” U-S Attorney Alison Ramsdell said.
The 11 people who were arrested range in age from 20-56 and are federally charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet:
- Kyle Dean Bult, age 38;
- Kalvin Michael Frankus, age 37;
- Hunter Hill, age 22;
- Stacy Shannon Hoover, age 56;
- Ryan Nigro, age 32;
- Jorge Manual Rodriguez-Marroquin, age 47;
- Dylan Ryan, age 24;
- Gerber David Santos Gonzalez, age 25;
- William Danery Sebastian, age 33;
- Southy Thepmontry, age 69; and
- Carter Lee Tyree, age 20.
One of them, 38-year-old Kyle Dean Bult is a registered sex offender.
He was convicted in 2012 of sexual exploitation of a minor.
All 11 individuals will be prosecuted at the Federal Courthouse in Sioux Falls and all face the possibility of serving between 10 years and life in federal prison.
U-S Attorney Alison Ramsdell says this operation shows just how well federal, state and local law enforcement officials can work together.
“In the law enforcement ranks we just work seamlessly with one another with a shared goal of community safety and in this instance safety for our children,” Ramsdell said.
She says this type of operation and others should be a reminder to all parents and guardians that the internet can be a dangerous place for children, especially if their activity is left unmonitored.
Ramsdell says to show you just how big of a problem child predators are in our community, her office prosecuted over 100 cases like this last year.
