12 arrested during All-Star Weekend for soliciting minors

Photo: Flickr

SALT LAKE CITY — An undercover operation conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of 12 individuals during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

The FBI-lead sting, called “Operation Technical Foul,” targeted people who used the internet to solicit and entice minors in the Salt Lake City area over a two week period.

“This is a collaborative effort to keep our community safe,” Sim Gill, Salt Lake County District Attorney, said in a press release. “I appreciate the time that was dedicated to this operation during the All-Star weekend. When many in Salt Lake County were enjoying the events for the All-Star weekend, others took this as an opportunity to violate the law.”

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Those who have been taken into custody are currently being held in the Salt Lake County Jail. Their cases were reviewed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office and charges are being filed. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will further review the cases for any potential federal charges.

“The safety of our children is of paramount importance” Gill said. “Those who prey on and exploit our most vulnerable will be prosecuted to the full force of the law.”

In addition to the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Utah State Bureau of Investigation, Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, the Davis County Attorney’s Office, Davis County Sheriff’s Office, South Jordan Police Department, Unified Police Department, Tooele City Police Department, Clearfield Police Department, Utah State University Police, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations participated in Operation Technical Foul.