19 Felonies for Men Soliciting Minors Online Through Sting Operation

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Detectives from our Major Crimes and Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureaus arrested 10 men over the past two weeks through online sting operations that sought to identify and apprehend predators who use the internet to exploit children. In each case, offenders used online platforms to initiate explicit conversations and solicit sex from police officers posing as children. When each of the suspects arrived at the agreed upon locations, detectives took them into custody. The men, who ranged in age from 18 to 51, were charged with a combined 19 felonies. 

Row 1 from left to right:

  1. Kalpeshkumar Patel, 31, of Falls Church, charged with two counts of the use of a communication system to solicit a minor and attempted indecent liberties
  2. Joshua Estill, 25, of Fairfax, charged with the use of a communication system to solicit a minor and attempted indecent liberties
  3. Marquise Linton, 18, of Fairfax, charged with the use of a communication system to solicit a minor
  4. Vijay Maharajan, 32, of Fairfax, charged with the use of a communication system to solicit a minor and attempted indecent liberties

Row 2 from left to right

  1. Murtaza Jaghoori, 35, of Leesburg, charged with the use of a communication system to solicit a minor and attempted indecent liberties
  2. Tysante Coy, 25, of Maryland, charged with proposing sex by computer to a minor and attempted indecent liberties
  3. Atef Sky, 51, of Manassas, charged with proposing sex by computer to a minor and attempted indecent liberties
  4. Hemanth Ghattamaneni, 24, of Fairfax, charged with proposing sex by computer to a minor and attempted indecent liberties

Row 3 from left to right:

  1. Amrit Shrestha, 26, of Chantilly, charged with proposing sex by computer to a minor and attempted indecent liberties
  2. Huan Vo, 36, of Fairfax, charged with the use of a communication system to solicit a minor

“Even during this holiday season, there are those who would prey against our most vulnerable, our children,” said Major Ed O’Carroll, Bureau Chief, Major Crimes, Cyber and Forensics Bureau. “Fortunately for our community, our detectives remain steadfast to ensure the safety of our children. These crimes have no place in our society and certainly not here in Fairfax County.” 

Parents are urged to closely monitor their children’s online activities and use available security settings to prevent the use of age-inappropriate sites or platforms. Children should be encouraged to report any person engaging in inappropriate conversations or trying to coerce them into providing sexually explicit images of themselves. Additional internet safety information provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children can be found here. There are many applications predators use to solicit victims. Parents are encouraged to know what applications their children are using and have open dialog of the dangers they may pose.

Anyone with information regarding other cases involving the exploitation of children or human trafficking is asked to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411, and by web – Click HERE. Download our Mobile tip411 App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 dollars if their information leads to an arrest. 

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