Buddhist Monk Among 238 Alleged Child Sex Predators in Socal Arrested in Multiagency Sweep

KTLA
June 22, 2016

http://ktla.com/2016/06/21/238-alleged-child-sex-predators-in-socal-arrested-in-multiagency-sweep/

Investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children arrested 238 people during Operation Broken Heart III. (Credit: Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

A monk from Riverside and an Australian man looking to buy a 6-year-old boy were among 238 people arrested during a two-month operation targeting child predators in Southern California, officials said Monday.

Conducted by the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes against Children task force, “Operation Broken Heart III” targeted offenders wanted for the sexual exploitation of children, child prostitution, sex tourism and possessing and distributing child pornography, said Deputy Chief Matt Blake of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Among those arrested during sweeps in April and May were entertainers, community leaders, white-collar professionals and clergy members, said John Reynolds, acting special agent in charge for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

“The incidence of child sexual exploitation has reached staggering proportions,” he said at a news conference.

Click here to read the full story on LATimes.com.