PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WHDH) - Six Massachusetts men were among the 13 people arrested in connection with a child exploitation sting operation in Rhode Island, officials said.
In a statement Thursday, the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announced the arrest of 13 people for child exploitation crimes as a result of a bust dubbed Operation Guardian.
Undercover detectives with the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force used 16 different social media applications and online classified ads to communicate with the suspects.
A judge ordered them to have limited internet use and no unsupervised contact with minors.
Arrested were:
Jose Carrion, 41, of Attleboro, Mass., on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and possession of cocaine.
Kevin Cooney, 27, of Bellingham, Mass., on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
Tomy Fitton, 39, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and five counts of electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
Anthony Gomes, 31, of Brockton, Mass., was arrested on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and five counts of electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
Michael Johnson, 50, of Templeton, Mass., was arrested on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and five counts of electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
James Jolly, 41, of Middleborough, Mass., was arrested on a charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
Paul Kimata, 41, of Brockton, Mass., was arrested on a charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
David King, 37, of Westerly, Rhode Island was arrested on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
Yuhua Kong, 29, of Providence, Rhode Island was arrested on a charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
Stephen Lomastro, 57, of Warwick, Rhode Island was arrested on a charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
Muhammad Malik, 44, of East Greenwich, Rhode Island was arrested on a charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
Emmett Manna, 37, of Providence, Rhode Island was arrested on a charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
Manna Mahuri, 41, of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, was arrested on a charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
Police say all 13 men agreed to meet people they believed to be between 13 and 15 years old for sex acts.
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