Authorities are looking for more potential victims of a 37-year-old man who allegedly used a social media platform to provide alcohol and drugs to minors in Southern California in exchange for sex, police said.
Saul Alfaro of Panorama City was arrested Tuesday after weeks of joint investigation between the Department of Homeland Security investigators in Los Angeles and the Burbank Police Department. He was booked with a federal complaint allegedly attempting to seduce a minor for sexual activity, police said.
Alfaro is said to have created online accounts on Instagram and Snapchat to contact young minors, aged 12, in Southern California. Alfaro is suspected of using MR_Jointz, Val.91503836, 8o5_Joeyy, SCV_Joey1, Kim.9120123, MIA.7477289 and CFS3.99771776.
Turner said Alfaro ran a social media account more than a year before his arrest. It was not clear whether Alfaro had direct contact with the minor. Turner said more casualties had moved forward as of Wednesday.
According to an email obtained by KTLA 5, school officials in the William S. Hart Union High School district of Santa Clarita notified parents that the two students could be among the victims. The email said Alfaro provided alcohol and medication as a way to seduce minors.
Director Michael Viera said in a statement that Alfaro’s contact information with minors was not made through school-issued devices or through the school’s network.
“We don’t know the full scope of this issue yet, but we understand that the suspect may have targeted youth from multiple communities,” Viera said. “Our district continues to educate students on responsible online behavior and is working closely with parents, staff and law enforcement to address new digital threats.”
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s station will work with the school district to provide student safety outreach and told the Santa Clarita Signal on Tuesday that it will cooperate with the investigation despite the incident being out of jurisdiction.
The investigation conducted by Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes is being conducted against the Task Force against Children, a national network that supports state and local law enforcement agencies that focus on online sex crimes against children, and is active and continuous.
Authorities are encouraging other victims to move forward. Anyone with information about Alfaro can contact Burbank Police Station (818) 238-3210 or HSI Tip Line (866) 347-2423 to see “Surveying Saul Alfaro.”
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