Investigators arrest 9 adults in human trafficking sting operation at Lake Tahoe

STATELINE, Nev. - Investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Reno Police Department’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) team along with the Federal Bureau of Investigations conducted a human trafficking operation in the Stateline, Nevada area July 7-8, 2022.

Over the two-day operation, investigators arrested nine adult males who were contacted by undercover officers posing as underage minors. Investigators said the officers were contacted by the suspects for the purpose of engaging in sexual relations. The adult males were charged with various charges up to and including, but not limited to: Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child, Attempted Statutory Sexual Seduction, Attempted Child Abuse Involving Sexual Exploitation, Soliciting a Child for Prostitution, Attempted Luring of a Child, and one male was charged with resisting arrest.

All are to be considered suspects and innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The arrested men:

Medina-Barajas, Victor, South Lake Tahoe, Ca, AGE 51
Zardeneta, Jose, LODI, CA, AGE 21
Dabney, Aaron, Sacramento, CA, AGE 45
Hall, Brit, South Lake Tahoe, Ca, AGE 45
Rodriguez-Aguilar, Javier, South Lake Tahoe, Ca, AGE 22
Fisher, Aaron, South Lake Tahoe, Ca, AGE 26
Santrattiwong, Chonlagum, Information pending, AGE 22
Ballew, Michael, AUBURN, CA, AGE 30
Harness, Michael, LANCASTER, CA, AGE 46

An additional adult male was cited and released for Solicitation for Prostitution of an adult.

Torres-Santos, Rodolfo, 22SO17306, Reno, Nv, AGE 22