Eight Charged in Aurora Underage Sex Trafficking Sting

From left: Nabeel Afsar, Andres Alonso , Josh Todd Archer, Marek Gaciarz; and Shane Lewis, Ruryk Michel, Juan Morales, Eric Ziemba. Credit: Aurora police.

A joint investigation between Aurora Police Special Operations Group investigators and agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) into sex crimes that victimize juveniles has led to charges against eight men, Aurora police said Wednesday.

The arrestees include residents of Oswego, Aurora, Chicago, Hanover Park and Pennsylvania, police said.

During the six-week operation, the investigators and agents targeted ads in an online publication that is known to promote prostitution-related activities police said. The advertisements purportedly offered sexual services and when the defendants called the telephone numbers listed, it was clear that the services were being offered by underage girls, according to police.

Arrangements were then made for the men to meet the girls at an Aurora hotel and once they arrived, they were taken into custody, police said.

“These alleged crimes shake our community to its very core,” said Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas. “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.”

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“Predators will use any means available – including classified ads on the Internet – to victimize innocent children for their perverse gratification,” said Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of HSI Chicago. “Words cannot describe the harm that these crimes inflict on its victims. Through partnerships with state, local and other federal law enforcement agencies, HSI will continue to vigorously pursue those who seek to sexually exploit children and prevent them from committing further abuse.”

Eight men were charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, and grooming, according to police:

Andres Alonso, 22, of the 900 block of Gates St.; and Josh Todd Archer, 32, of the1500 block of Simms St., both in Aurora; Ruryk Michel, 38, of the 500 block of Hidden Creek Ln., North Aurora; Juan Morales, 26, of the 10500 block of S. Avenue L; and Marek Gaciarz, 32 of the 3700 block of N. Octavia Av., both in Chicago; Eric Francis Ziemba, 40, of the 700 block of Wimore Dr., Oswego; Nabeel Afsar, 21, of the 1300 block of Santa Anna Dr., Hanover Park; and Shane R. Lewis, 35, of the 500 block of N. Mill Rd., Kennet Square, PA.

The charges are all Class-X felonies, which call for enhanced penalties upon conviction, police said.

Morales’ next court date is scheduled for Jan. 14; Lewis’s on Jan. 16; Ziemba’s on Jan. 22, Archer’s on Feb. 6; Alonso’s on Feb. 11; Michel’s on Feb. 19; and Afsar’s on Feb. 27. The next court date for Gaciarz has yet to be set. All will appear at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.

The vehicles the men were driving were impounded and they had to pay $500 in order to retrieve them, police said.

Police are not disclosing the location of the sting in order to protect the integrity of future operations. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

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