North Texan arrested in multi-agency operation against online predators

FORT WORTH — Nearly a dozen people were arrested as part of Operation Heatwave, a multi-agency initiative of the Fort Worth Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

Between August 7 and 9, the operation identified and arrested ten North Texans and one Australian attempting to engage in illegal sexual activity with minors. Undercover agents used various online platforms to communicate with suspects, resulting in several arrests and the disruption of exploitation attempts.

“We want to send a clear message: We will not tolerate any attempt to harm our children,” said Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes. “The Fort Worth Police Department, along with our dedicated partners, will continue to use every tool at our disposal to track down these perpetrators and bring them to justice. I want to thank all officers and agents involved in this operation for their hard work and dedication.”

The suspects arrested include:

• 25-year-old Alexis Javier Sanchez Monreal from Dallas
• 56-year-old Anthony Harold Knox of Fort Worth
• Cesar Ignacio Hernandez Perez, 31, of Arlington
• 42-year-old Craig Bridgland from Australia
• 40-year-old Daniel Carlos Ramos from Fort Worth
• Donte Tejuan Zachary, 44, of Fort Worth
• 33-year-old Jonathan Hayden Pond of Fort Worth
• 42-year-old Jose Luis Estrada Jr. from Krum
• 21-year-old Joseph Thomas Milarski from Bedford
• 32-year-old Ralph Edward Hoskins of Arlington
• 53-year-old Todd Brian Behney of Fort Worth

The operation involved the Fort Worth Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Unit, Directed Response Unit, Intelligence Unit, Real-Time Crime Center and Electronic Surveillance Unit.

Partners in the operation included the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Department, Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Irving, Keller and Mansfield police departments, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI.

Authorities stressed that the success of the operation was a testament to law enforcement's commitment to protecting children and combating online exploitation through joint efforts.