GI Police undercover investigations instrumental in preventing child sex crimes

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.-- Police in Central Nebraska are encouraging parents to monitor what their kids are doing online.

Navigating the online world can be dangerous for kids. That’s why Grand Island Police believe the work of undercover investigators is critical. 

“It’s difficult to imagine, it’s difficult to think but in police work we often see the worst of people and see the worst of situations. Being able to prevent some this it’s a blessing and a benefit for us and the public as well,” Elliott said. 

Captain Dean Elliott says a total of four men have been arrested for enticement by electronic device this year alone. 

Thanks to a meticulous undercover investigator, Nehemias Vicente, Manuel Canil Tol, Ervin Oxlaj-Aguilar, and James Richard Altfilish are now in jail. 

The men thought they were using online communications to set up a meeting with an underage girl.

Elliott says the investigator creates profiles on several apps and waits. 

“It’s always they reached out to us first," Elliott said. "We start having those conversations and depending on where the conversations goes will depend upon on whether or not we end up with enough to actually file charges and make an arrest.”

Men sent pornography, asked for sex and eventually set a meeting date. In many instances, police later find evidence of the suspects talking to other underage girls too. 

If they are found guilty, they could get between 10 to 20 years in prison depending on the case.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to do this but on the same token if we’re pulling a predator, a sexual predator, off the street a child predator off the street and putting them in jail and hopefully ultimately getting them some prison time for their actions," said Elliott. "How many other victims out there we potentially save?”

Elliot says the main investigator is constantly staying up to date in what is trending, since technology changes so fast. 

But he says that parents need to be the first line of defense for their kids. 

“Sometimes you need to be the enforcer and take appropriate steps to monitor what it is that they’re doing so you as the parent can say yes or no, this is right or this is wrong,” Elliott said.