Kenyan in Massachusetts Among 13 Suspects Charged with Indecent Solicitation of Children Online

A 41-year-old Kenyan man in Massachusetts was among 13 suspects arrested this week over allegations of trying to solicit children via social media and online classified ads.

Paul Kimata, of Brockton, Massachusetts, was arrested along with other suspects following an undercover investigation dubbed Operation Guardian carried out by Rhode Island state and local authorities, Rhode Island State Police announced on Thursday. Kimata has been charged with indecent solicitation of a child.

According to police investigators, the suspects thought they were arranging to meet with children aged between 13 and 15 years but were actually talking to undercover detectives in the state police-run Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

“Child predators are constantly looking for juveniles to exploit and prey upon,” Col. James Manni of the Rhode Island State Police said at a news briefing at the agency’s North Scituate headquarters announcing the arrests Thursday. 

“Parents must remain vigilant in communicating with their children and monitoring their child’s social media platforms.”

All suspects were charged with indecent solicitation of a child while others faced separate charges, including electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor and, in one case, cocaine possession.

Police did not name the exact social media applications and online classified ads the suspects were using.

“It makes it a lot easier for predators to access children online. In the past, decades ago, there was no internet for that access to be there,” Sgt. Damien Longo of the Rhode Island State Police said.

Here is a list of all the 13 suspects:

• Michael Johnson, 50, of 177 S. Main Street, Templeton, Massachusetts, was arrested on the charges of indecent solicitation of a child and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
• Jose Carrion, 41, of 130 Jones Street, Apt. 1, Attleboro, Massachusetts, was arrested on the charges of indecent solicitation of a child and possession of cocaine.
• Kevin Cooney, 27, of 24 Ann Marie Drive, Bellingham, Massachusetts, was arrested on the charges of indecent solicitation of a child and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
• Tomy Fitton, 39, of 40 Mill Street, Pawtucket, was arrested on the charges of indecent solicitation of a child and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor (5 counts).
• Anthony Gomes, 31, of 10 Main Street, Apt. 1, Brockton, Massachusetts, was arrested on the charges of indecent solicitation of a child and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
• James Jolly, 41, of 47 Barden Hill Road, Middleboro, Massachusetts, was arrested on the charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Paul Kimata, 41, of 685 Oak Street, Apt. 27, Brockton, Massachusetts, was arrested on the charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
• David King, 37, of 32 Newton Avenue, Westerly, was arrested on the charges of indecent solicitation of a child and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.
• Yuhua Kong, 29, of 127 DePasquale Avenue, Apt. 3, Providence, was arrested on the charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Stephen Lomastro 57, of 166 Lakeside Avenue, Warwick, was arrested on the charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Muhammad Malik, 44, of 90 McPartland Way, East Greenwich, was arrested on the charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Emmett Manna, 37, of 46 Whittier Avenue, Apt. 2, Providence, was arrested on the charge of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Manna Mahuri, 41, of 32 Newport Avenue, North Kingstown, was arrested on the charge of indecent solicitation of a child.