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PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A registered sex offender was arrested nearly 15 years after his first conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor. The sergeant leading the current case is the same detective who arrested the suspect in 2011.
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Investigators say Cash App flagged suspicious payments from a 34-year-old Arizona man to a teenage girl in Indiana, uncovering an alleged interstate child exploitation case involving a 14-year-old girl. The total was $51, but detectives say it led them to alleged grooming, explicit images and trips across state lines.
“Parents need to know who they’re communicating with over the internet because it is ripe with sexual predators on the internet,” said Sheriff Jerry Sheridan.
The investigation
Maricopa County investigators say 34-year-old Stefon Santos used Snapchat and Cash App to communicate with a 14-year-old girl in Indiana. Detectives say the girl sent him explicit images and Santos then traveled to Indiana to meet her.
“So this tip was just generated by Cash App, seeing that suspicious activity and reporting it to the center,” said Sgt. Dennis Ogerchuck.
Ogerchuck says Santos sent about 22 Cash transactions totaling $51. He says small payments are often how predators build trust.
Prior conviction
“We also learned that he had been arrested by the MCSO Cyber Crimes Unit back in 2011,” Ogerchuck said.
Ogerchuck, the detective now supervising the Cyber Crimes Unit, says he was the case agent who arrested Santos 15 years ago in a child sexual abuse material case.
“MCSO detectives knew during this new investigation that Stefan’s admissions made during my interview with him back then that he was sexually attracted to minor females aged from 10 to 15 years old. Stefan made those statements back in 2011 and stated that he had a problem and he was sick and needed help,” Ogerchuck said.
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Court records show Santos served about six years in prison, is a registered sex offender and was put on probation.
Ongoing investigation
“We feel pretty likely there’s going to be other victims, possibly here in Maricopa County,” Ogerchuck said.
Several phones were seized and detectives are now combing through chats, photos and apps like Snapchat, Roblox, Telegram and WhatsApp.
“It’s so critical for the parents out there to monitor every application that your children are using through the Internet,” Ogerchuck said.
Investigators say additional charges are still possible both in Arizona and Indiana as forensic examinations continue. They are asking anyone with information on Santos to contact the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
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