A weekslong investigation by police and federal agents in Burbank led to the arrest of a 37-year-old man reportedly using social media to target minors, some as young as 12, and investigators believe there may be additional unreported victims.
While authorities with the Burbank Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) did not release the details of how or when the suspect, now identified as Panorama City resident Saul Alfaro, was taken into custody, they said the 37-year-old was arrested and booked for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Detectives said that several victims have already been identified, though they did not provide any additional information.
In an email to parents from William S. Hart Union High School District obtained by KTLA, officials said they were informed by HSI that the suspect had been using social media to offer alcohol and drugs to minors and to solicit sex from underage victims throughout the Southland.
“We have been made aware that two students from our District may be among the victims,” the email stated.
Alfaro, according to a Burbank PD news release, has used several different profile names online to communicate with minors, including:
- mr_jointz
- val.91503836
- 8o5_joey
- scv_joeyy1
- kim.9120123
- mia.7477289
- cfs3.99771776
- hugediktaylr
The 37-year-old’s photo was released in hopes that members of the public may be able to help identify any additional victims who have not yet come forward.
Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to contact the Burbank Police Department at 818-238-3210 or the HSI Tip Line at 866-347-2423 and reference the “Saul Alfaro Investigation.”
The Burbank Police Department and HSI are members of the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
