FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Nine men face a combined 20 criminal charges following an undercover online child exploitation operation in Fairfax County, according to police.
Detectives posed as juveniles on internet platforms to identify people who initiated sexually explicit conversations with children, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
Police said the men believed they were traveling to Fairfax County to meet a child for a sexual encounter. Instead, they were met by detectives from the department's Child Exploitation Unit and Violent Crimes Suppression Unit.
Court records provided to Patch identify offense dates between July 15 and July 31 for eight of the nine defendants. The men range in age from 21 to 48, and all of the charges remained pending when the records were reviewed.
(FCPD)
Police Identify The Nine Men Arrested
Police identified the men arrested as:
Jonathan William Carter, 29, of Statesville, North Carolina: Carter was charged with attempted use of a communications system to solicit a person younger than 18 for pornography, a Class 6 felony, according to court records. The alleged offense occurred July 17, and Carter was arrested July 18. Police initially said he was released on a $5,000 secured bond, but the court record lists his current status as released on recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Fairfax County General District Court.
Ammar Ezzulddin Alhafidh, 48, of Ashburn: Police charged Alhafidh with solicitation of a minor and procuring a minor for prostitution. He was being held without bond, according to FCPD.
Carlos Navarrete Campos, 42, of Manassas: Navarrete Campos faces two felony charges stemming from July 29: using a communications system to solicit a person younger than 18 for pornography and soliciting prostitution from a minor. He was arrested that day and remained listed as being free on bail. Police said he was released on a $1,500 secured bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29.
Favio Daniel Sejas Escobar, 44, of Springfield: Police described Sejas Escobar's charge as solicitation of a minor. The court record more specifically lists one Class 6 felony count of soliciting prostitution from a minor. The alleged offense and arrest occurred July 18. Police initially reported that he was released on a $1,500 secured bond, while the court record now lists him as released on recognizance. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29.
Henry Flores Herrera, 39, of Alexandria: Flores Herrera faces two Class 6 felony charges arising from July 16. Court records describe the charges as soliciting prostitution from a minor and using a communications system to propose a sexual act to a minor. He was arrested July 16. Police initially said he was released on a $5,000 secured bond, but court records list his current status as released on recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28.
Joshua Paul Blochowicz, 41, of Stafford: Blochowicz faces four felony charges involving alleged conduct between July 15 and July 17. Court records list three counts of using a communications system to propose sexual acts to a child younger than 15 and one count of indecent liberties with a child younger than 15. Police described the latter charge as attempted indecent liberties. Blochowicz was arrested July 18. Police initially reported that he was released on a $5,000 secured bond, while the court records list him as released on recognizance. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27.
Rashad Taheem Norris, 32, of Woodbridge: Norris was arrested July 15 and remained in custody, according to the court records. He faces one Class 5 felony count of using a communications system to propose a sexual act to a child younger than 15 and one Class 6 felony count of attempted indecent liberties with a child younger than 15. Both charges stem from alleged conduct on July 15. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23.
Reyben Leon Sanchez Hernandez, 21, of Reston: Sanchez Hernandez faces two felony charges — using a communications system to solicit a person younger than 18 for pornography and soliciting prostitution from a minor — along with a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license. The alleged offenses and arrest occurred July 29. Police said he was released on a $3,000 secured bond, and the court records list him as being free on bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 21. Separate court records show Sanchez Hernandez was found guilty in January of reckless driving at 81 mph in a 55 mph zone and driving with a suspended or revoked license in connection with a June 2025 traffic stop. He received a 60-day suspended jail sentence and $250 fine for reckless driving and a 30-month license suspension and $100 fine for driving with a suspended or revoked license. Prosecutors dropped four other traffic counts from the same stop.
Wilmer Aguilar Cruz, 28, of Woodbridge: Aguilar Cruz faces three Class 5 felony charges. Court records list two counts of using a communications system to propose sexual acts to a child younger than 15, based on alleged conduct July 27 and July 31, and one count of indecent liberties with a child younger than 15. Police described the indecent liberties charge as attempted. He was arrested July 31. Police said he was released on a $3,000 secured bond, and court records list him as being free on bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Police advised parents to monitor their children's online activity, use available security settings and talk with their children about online risks. Children should be encouraged to report anyone who initiates inappropriate conversations or attempts to coerce them into providing sexually explicit images, police said.
Anyone with information about the cases or similar incidents may call the Fairfax County Police Department's Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6.
Anonymous tips may be submitted to Fairfax County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), visiting the Crime Solvers website or using the P3 Tips app. Anonymous tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards.