Task Force Charges 6 Men Who Sought Underage Sex During 2-Month Sting in Tuscaloosa

Police in Tuscaloosa have charged six men with 12 felonies after they allegedly tried to arrange to meet minors for sex during a two-month undercover operation.

Captain Phil Simpson, the commander of the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, said the operation targeted predators who use social media to solicit minors for sex.

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All six suspects are accused of contacting an undercover agent who was posing on social media and in advertisements for sex workers as a minor.

"All of the suspects contacted an undercover profile or ad for commercial sex, engaged in sexually explicit discussions, and proposed sexual acts with what they believed to be a minor female who was under the age of 16," police spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor told the Thread. "Five of the six suspects traveled to a residence in an attempt to meet with the minor, however were instead met by task force officers."

One Auburn man, four Tuscaloosa men and a sixth suspect whose place of residence was not specified were all arrested in the operation.

Those arrested include:

• Romel Estuardo Gomez-Cruz, 33, from Auburn. He was arrested Aug. 20 on charges of electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. His bond was set at $90,000.
• Vincent Rashad Farley, 36, of Tuscaloosa. He was arrested Aug. 20 on charges of electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. Bond was set at $90,000.
• Devon Jeremiah Allen, 25, of Tuscaloosa. He was arrested Sept. 22 on charges of electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. Bond was set at $90,000.
• Christopher Demetrius Carter, 29, of Tuscaloosa. He was arrested Sept. 23 on charges of electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. Bond was set at $90,000.
• Damion Ladarius Cooper, 26, of Tuscaloosa. He was arrested Oct. 27 on charges of electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. Bond was set at $90,000.
• Chase Anthony Reyes, 22, was charged with two counts of electronic solicitation of a child. He was arrested Wednesday morning. Bond was set at $60,000.

“With so many online social platforms available, children and teenagers are at a much greater risk of sexual exploitation today than ever before, “ Captain Simpson said. “We hope this operation sends a clear message to predators that they will go to jail when they use social media to solicit victims. The operation can also serve as a conversation starter between parents, caretakers and their children about online safety.”

The WAHTTF is made up of officers from the Tuscaloosa, Northport and University of Alabama Police Departments, who were assisted in this case by the Tuscaloosa Police Cyber Intel Unit, Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue, Northport Fire Rescue, the University of Alabama’s Institute of Data and Analytics, Hoover Police, University of West Alabama Police and Trafficking Hope.