Eight men have been charged for sex crimes victimizing juveniles following a joint investigation between Aurora Police Special Operations Group investigators and agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, police released.
In a six-week sting operation, investigators published online advertisements offering sexual services in an attempt to find the predators, police said.
When the men called the phone numbers listed in the ads, it was made clear the sexual services were to be performed by underage girls. Those who arrived to meet and receive the proposed sexual services from the minor girls in an Aurora hotel were arrested, police said.
“These alleged crimes shake our community to its very core,” Aurora Chief of Police Greg Thomas said in a statement. “The human trafficking of children is deplorable and has absolutely no place in a civilized society. We will continue to work tirelessly with law enforcement at all levels to eradicate this disgusting behavior and do everything we can to protect our children.”
The identities of the following men were released by police as those charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, and grooming – all Class-X felonies:
- Andres Alonso, 22, of the 900 block of Gates Street in Aurora;
- Josh Todd Archer, 32, of the1500 block of Simms Street in Aurora;
- Ruryk Michel, 38, of the 500 block of Hidden Creek Lane in North Aurora;
- Juan Morales, 26, of the 10500 block of S. Avenue L in Chicago;
- Marek Gaciarz, 32, of the 3700 block of N. Octavia Avenue in Chicago;
- Eric Francis Ziemba, 40, of the 700 block of Wimore Drive in Oswego;
- Nabeel Afsar, 21, of the 1300 block of Santa Anna Drive in Hanover Park;
- Shane R. Lewis, 35, of the 500 block of N. Mill Road in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
All of the charged men are scheduled to appear at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles for court dates in the coming weeks.
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HSI special agent Gary Hartwig said in a statement they plan to “vigorously pursue” operations like these in order to prevent those who sexually exploit children from committing further crimes.
