9 Arizona men charged in undercover child exploitation sting

PHOENIX (AP) — Nine men have been indicted in an undercover child sexual exploitation investigation in Arizona, authorities said Wednesday.

Operation Silent Predator took place in January and involved police departments in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler plus Homeland Security Investigations and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Authorities said the operation’s goal was to crack down on people soliciting sexual conduct with minors through various social media websites and applications.

Undercover agents pretended to be minors in the crackdown.

State prosecutors said the nine suspects range in age from 23 to 65.

All have been indicted on charges of attempted sexual conduct with a minor.

Two of the men also are accused of child sex trafficking and the other seven face additional charges of luring a minor for sexual exploitation.