13 Arrested in Colorado Child Predator Sting After Undercover Officers Posed as Minors
Aurora police say a proactive online investigation into child predators ended with 13 men in custody after undercover officers posed as minors offering paid sexual services and arranged meetings.
The Aurora Police Department’s Special Victims Section launched the operation, which authorities said was designed to expose suspects who might otherwise remain hidden while pursuing children online.
According to police, undercover officers went into online spaces, pretended to be minors and agreed to meet the men. Several of the suspects traveled from across Denver, and most brought the money discussed in the chats, APD said.
“Without proactive investigations like this, much of this criminal activity would remain hidden from the public and, more importantly, these individuals could have gone on to victimize a child,” said Lt. Seth Robertson, who oversees the Special Victims Section.
Police said seven of the suspects had “sexual devices,” one bought alcohol, one had drugs and another was armed. Two were already registered sex offenders, APD said.
“In today’s online world, offenders who seek to sexually exploit children can do so behind closed doors and out of public view, which is why proactive police work is so important in exposing these crimes,” Robertson said.
The department identified the suspects as Jeffrey Lutsk, Kristopher Dominguez, Frank Herman, Jesus Cedillo, Jonathan Kranich, Thomas Wohlman, Devar Lewis, Danny Davis, Samuel Wahlgren, Joshua Tarver, Fermin Rivera-Garcia, Robert Titus and Hikmat Hikmat.
Many faced felony charges, including internet luring of a child, attempted sexual assault of a minor and solicitation of child prostitution, among other counts.
The case was part of the department’s Stopping Adults From Exploiting, or SAFE, initiative. SAFE was launched shortly after Colorado passed Senate Bill 26-15, which toughened penalties for internet luring of a child for commercial sexual activity. The charge was elevated from a Class 5 felony to a Class 3 felony.
Under state law, according to the Colorado General Assembly, suspects convicted of charges related to child prostitution must serve at least 364 days in jail if they are offered probation. They must also face at least “the minimum of the presumptive range for the level of offense associated with the crime.”
This year, the Senate also passed Senate Bill 26-11, which allows courts to place sex offenders on probation for terms ranging from 10 to 20 years. Lawmakers may not be finished: Protect Kids Colorado and Advance Colorado are sponsoring Proposition 133, which would require people found guilty of trafficking minors to serve life in prison.
Human trafficking is currently a Level 2 felony in Colorado. If passed, the proposition would upgrade it to Level 1. The debate comes as human trafficking has risen in the state in recent years. In 2023, Colorado recorded the 10th-highest number of sex trafficking cases nationwide. Adams County reportedly saw the most occurrences, while Denver, Boulder and El Paso followed close behind.
The arrests underscore how online child exploitation investigations increasingly depend on undercover work, because the conduct can occur in private chats and behind closed doors. Colorado has responded with stiffer penalties, but officials and advocates continue to push for stronger measures as trafficking cases persist.
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