HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – Nine men face nearly 40 charges after a two-day joint operation targeting online child predators in Huntsville, police announced on Saturday.
According to the Huntsville Police Department, on Thursday and Friday, HPD along with the Madison County District Attorney’s Office, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office and Covenant Rescue Group, aimed to identify, investigate and arrest individuals reportedly exploiting children online.
Police said the suspects solicited and targeted decoys that were believed to be minors in online chat rooms and social media platforms.
The suspects reportedly agreed to pay for sexual acts with minors and traveled in Huntsville to designated locations, authorities said.
Covenant Rescue Group, based out of Gardendale, trained and advised the law enforcement the past two days — something the organization has done around Alabama and throughout the U.S. since 2019.
CEO Jared Hudson says they aim to do more than just find and arrest these people.
“Our goal is to teach agencies how not just to make a felony arrest, but also to work with the District Attorney’s Office to make sure we have a successful prosecution,” Hudson said. “Because you have to have those two things in order to impact human trafficking here in the United States.”
The following suspects were arrested and charged:
- Marco Elias of Gulfport, Tex. (31)
- Two counts of first-degree human trafficking
- Two counts of electronic solicitation of a child
- Two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Floyd Corey Powell Jr. of Harvest (31)
- First-degree human trafficking
- Distribute/transmit obscene material to a child by an electronic device
- Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Michael Fike of Somerville (53)
- First-degree human trafficking
- Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Shivam Patel of Muscle Shoals (23)
- Two counts of first-degree human trafficking
- Two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Two counts of electronic solicitation of a child
- Michael Stevens of Albertville (33)
- Two counts of first-degree human trafficking
- Two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Two counts of electronic solicitation of a child
- Julio Juan of Decatur (29)
- Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- First-degree human trafficking
- Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Gilmar Huinac of Carthage, Mo.(45)
- First-degree human trafficking
- Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Elmer Sarmiento of Huntsville (32)
- First-degree human trafficking
- Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Electronic Solicitation of a Child
- Bryan Nde of Huntsville (27)
- First-degree human trafficking
- Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Electronic Solicitation of a Child
Hudson advises parents to be involved in their kids’ lives, and to know that there are many people lurking out there.
“Just realize that everybody you’re talking to over text message or on the phone — if you don’t know them personally— they’re probably not who they say they are,” he said.
Police said this remains an active investigation that may lead to additional charges. They, along with Covenant Rescue Group, emphasize that these suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
But Hudson is confident there will be probable cause showing these men committed these crimes.
“It’s ultimately going to be up to a jury to decide whether they did,” he said. “And I believe we have good cases to show that they did.”
All suspects were booked into the Madison County Jail and held without bond.
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