Six men arrested in child sex predator, human trafficking sting out of Wake Forest
Wake Forest police arrested six men as part of a multi-jurisdictional undercover sting operation targeting child sex predators and human traffickers.
Police partnered with other law enforcement agencies on Tuesday and Wednesday posing as juveniles and traffickers. The suspects solicited the agents for sex or some other purpose, and meetings were set up in various locations throughout Wake Forest where they were taken into custody.
The Wake Forest Police Department arrested and charged the following six men:
- Frank Ferlo Jr., 60, of Raleigh, is charged with solicitation by computer or certain other electronic devices to commit an unlawful sex act.
- Anwar Antuan Overby, 40, of Durham, is charged with attempted first-degree statutory rape
- Amadeo Vargas-Varela, 49, of Raleigh, is charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor
- Jason Malone Lartigue, 42, of Rolesville, is charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor
- Calixto Gomez-Carreno, 43, of Garner, is charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor
- Esteban Javier Alvarez-Medina, 47, of Fuquay-Varina, is charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor
Police officials say one of the reasons child sex crimes and human trafficking are on the rise is because predators now have access to their victims via home computers and cell phones. Authorities urge parents to keep track of their children's online behavior.
Wake Forest police received help from the FBI, Wake County District Attorney's Office and Cleveland County Sheriff's Office in the operation.
