Police arrest seven online predators who preyed on children

Police arrested seven men in connection with a sting operation aimed at identifying online predators, the Fairfax County Police Department reported Jan. 10.

The “traveler operation” was conducted over several days in December and continued as detectives worked to identify offenders who failed to appear as part of the initial sting.

In each case, offenders used internet platforms to initiate explicit conversations and solicit sex from police officers posing as children. When each of the suspects arrived at the agreed-upon locations, detectives took them into custody. These men were charged with a total of 49 felonies:

• Danial Siridavong, 33, of Woodbridge – two counts of use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children and one count of attempting indecent liberties.

• Edil Yovani Galvin-Dubon, 35, of Fairfax – attempted indecent liberties with a minor, 20 counts of possession/reproduction of child pornography with the intent to distribute, four counts of use of communications systems to propose the performance of a sexual act, and two counts of aggravated sexual battery from a 2017 incident.

• Moh Shakib Stanikzai, 30, of Alexandria – one count of computer solicitation of a child under 15 and attempted indecent liberties with a child under 15.

• Gilberto Antonio Jarquin-Medina, 26, of Alexandria – one count of computer solicitation of a child under 15 and attempted indecent liberties.

• Zim Mohammad, 23, of Springfield – use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children and one count of enticing a minor to produce pornography.

• Ozgur Ozcelik, 35, of Alexandria – two counts of use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children and one count of attempting indecent liberties.

• During the operation, detectives received communication from David M. Thompson, 52, of Harrisonburg, who was attempting to solicit sex from police officers posing as children.

Detectives identified Thompson’s residence and coordinated with the Virginia State Police and the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Thompson was arrested Jan. 6 and charged with two counts of child porn production, six counts of distributing child pornography, and two counts of use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. He was arrested by state police and taken to the Rockingham County Adult Detention Center. 

The FCPD urges parents to closely monitor their children’s online activities and use available security settings to prevent the use of inappropriate sites or platforms.

Children should be encouraged to report any person engaging in inappropriate conversations or trying to coerce them into providing sexually explicit images of themselves.

More information about keeping children safe from online predators is available from NetSmartz.