MAUI (HawaiiNewsNow) – Between Friday, June 27, and Sunday, June 29, law enforcement officers arrested six men in a multi-agency sting operation.
The Maui Police Department hosted Operation Keiki Shield 28, aimed at catching child predators online.
On Monday, June 30, Maui police confirmed six arrests had been made for charges related to internet-facilitated sexual offenses against children.
The six alleged offenders were arrested and charged after soliciting what they believed to be children for sex and taking further steps to meet up with the “minors” for the purpose of engaging in criminal sex acts.
The offenders were instead met by law enforcement officers.
The accused predators were between the ages of 36 and 86-years-old and were charged with either Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Minor or Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree.
Bail was set at $100,000 per offender.
Gavin Sarme, 38, of Kihei and Kar Arcano, 36, of Kahului were arrested and charged with Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
Johnny Prones, 37, of Kihei, Kaimi Pupuhi, 46, of Kihei, Christopher Glavor, 38, of Kihei, and Michael Dela Cruz, 86, of Kihei were all arrested and charged with Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree.
MPD said each of the cases are being referred to the County of Maui’s Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for review. Some additional referrals of some cases will be made to federal law enforcement agencies for review of violations of federal law.
Operation Keiki Shield 28 included officers, investigators, and agents from the Maui Police Department, the Honolulu Police Department, the Kauai Police Department, the Hawaii County Police Department.
It also included investigators from the Department of the Attorney General, the ICAC Taskforce, the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service.
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