An operation, called “Rolling Thunder,” was conducted over a day and a half last week at a hotel in Schertz.
GUADALUPE COUNTY, Texas — An undercover multi-agency operation in Guadalupe County has landed 16 people in jail. They’re accused of attempting to solicit sex online, including seven who allegedly targeted minors.
The operation, called “Rolling Thunder,” was conducted over a day and a half last week at a hotel in Schertz. Guadalupe County Sheriff Joshua Ray said the sting was aimed at catching sexual predators especially those seeking to exploit children.
“We are really going after child predators,” Ray said. “When we cast this net and the way we conduct this operation, we are going to catch sexual predators of all forms, like those who exploit women through prostitution. But really, our goal is to catch child predators.”
The operation was initially scheduled to run for three days, but the sheriff said they had to cut it short.
“Had we operated the full three days, we would have probably doubled the amount of arrests we made,” Ray said.
The suspects were arrested after allegedly engaging in online conversations, often through social media apps and chatrooms, with individuals they believed to be either minors or people facilitating sex work. However, instead they were communicating with investigators.
“They believe they are talking to someone who is soliciting them or a minor that’s engaging in this type of behavior,” Ray explained.
In addition to the 16 arrests, investigators identified three female victims and located a missing juvenile. The individuals arrested are from across the region, including San Antonio, New Braunfels, Converse, Canyon Lake and Floresville.
This is the second operation the sheriff’s office has conducted this year. A similar operation in March, was held at a hotel in Seguin, led to 14 arrests and the recovery of two human trafficking victims.
Sheriff Ray emphasized the growing threat of online predators, particularly through apps that provide direct access to children.
“Predators now, with these applications, have direct access to our children,” Ray said. “It’s like allowing a predator to walk into your child’s room, shut the door and you don’t know what’s going on, it’s only happening through a cell phone.”
The sheriff said they will be conducting other operations in the future, and it will be at different locations.
“We are going to be watching,” he said. “And if they plan on coming to Guadalupe County, they can plan on going to jail.”
Below are the names provided by the sheriff’s office of the people recently arrested.
- Trevor McGaughey Burton, 35, Marion
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Kevin Rury, 68, Schertz
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- John Joseph Digirogio, 61, Fisher
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Marvin Charles McCarthy, 32, Canyon Lake
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Online Solicitation of a Minor (F3)
- Eduardo Hernandez-Diaz, 32, San Antonio
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Randall Moore Awbrey, 37, San Antonio
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Solicitation Prostitution of Person under 18yoa (F2)
- Jorge Luis Sarabia-Dominguez, 41, San Antonio
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor w/Previous Conviction (F3)
- ICE Hold
- Jonathan Dale Savage, 27, Schertz
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Solicitation Prostitution of Person under 18yoa (F2)
- Alberto Vega Jr., 45, Converse
- Solicitation Prostitution of Person under 18yoa (F2)
- Robert Jewell, 67, San Antonio
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor &
- Solicitation Prostitution of Person under 18yoa (F2)
- Robert Brian Hopper, 45, San Antonio
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Roman Michael Alfaro, 35, San Antonio
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Michael Goodley, 31, San Antonio
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Solicitation Prostitution of Person under 18yoa (F2)
- Cedell Wright, 43, New Braunfels
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Harold Earl Coleman, 38, Selma
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Solicitation Prostitution of Person under 18yoa (F2)
- Wesley Ryan Pelech, 42, Floresville
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Solicit Prostitution/other Payor (FS)
- Poss CS PG 1/1B<1g (FS)