The Brief
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San Jose police arrested 11 suspects between February 3 and February 6 as part of a human trafficking and child exploitation operation prior to Super Bowl LX.
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Among those arrested was 31-year-old Ruben Guzman, assistant principal at Sunrise Middle School, who allegedly tried to search a 13-year-old boy.
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The school removed Guzman immediately and stated that the investigation does not involve any Sunrise students, although they have provided counseling and resources to families.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Investigators have arrested 11 suspects, including a middle school assistant principal, as part of a child exploitation operation in San Jose.
According to the San Jose Police Department, the operation was designed to combat child exploitation and human trafficking leading up to Super Bowl LX. Between February 3 and February 6, the authorities arrested the suspects for communicating with the intention of meeting minors to engage in sexual activity.
A school official among those detained
You are deeper
The first arrests took place on February 3 and included Cesar Rodriguez-Vela, 35, and Jose Garcia-Hernandez, 25. Also arrested that day was Ruben Guzman, 31, assistant principal at Sunrise Middle School.
Authorities said Guzman communicated with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old boy. Despite knowing the boy was underage, Guzman allegedly expressed his desire to engage in sexual acts with the minor and offered money in exchange, police said. Guzman arranged to pick up the boy in San Jose, but was met by officers when he arrived.
He remains under arrest.
The school district responds
What they are saying
Sunrise Middle School officials said they are fully cooperating with the investigation. The school said the allegations against Guzman do not involve the campus or its students.
“Our immediate priority was the safety of the students. The individual was removed from campus immediately and will have no further contact with students,” said Teresa Robinson, the school’s principal. “Since then, we’ve spoken to students in age-appropriate ways, communicated directly with families, and made counseling support available on campus.”
Robinson added that there is currently no information to indicate any Sunrise students were involved.
“While this is deeply upsetting, it does not reflect who we are as a school,” she said.
additional arrests
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In the following days, officers arrested eight suspects. They were Nelson Mejia-Rivas, 36; Dexter Goody, 72; Luis Medina De Leon, 36; Gonzalo Yesca, 25; Michael Valdeolivar, 42; Harjeet Singh, 24; Joey Minh Truc Nguyen, 35; and Frank Huang, 58
All suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on charges that include attempted lewd acts with minors and arranging meetings with minors for sexual purposes.
San Jose police arrested 11 suspects between February 3 and February 6 as part of a human trafficking and child exploitation operation prior to Super Bowl LX.
The Source
This story was written based on information from the San Jose Police Department.