Paul Kimata, a Kenyan living in the United States is among 13 people who were arrested on charges of trying to solicit children via social media and online classified ads.
Paul Kimata was arrested along with the other suspects following an undercover investigation dubbed Operation Guardian carried out by Rhode Island state and local authorities.
Officers from the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force nabbed the men using 16 different social media apps and online classified ads to communicate with suspects police say believed were talking to children between the ages of 13 and 15.
The men arranged to meet the undercover officers “for various sexual acts at a predetermined location,” leading to the 13 arrests for indecent solicitation of a child. Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Col. James Manni said during a press conference;
“This type of operation demonstrates how dangerous social media is to our youth. Child predators are constantly looking for juveniles to exploit and prey upon, and parents must remain vigilant in communicating with their children and monitoring their child’s social media platforms.”