Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Two out-of-state men were arrested and briefly jailed in Tucumcari on felony child enticement charges after a sting operation earlier this month.
Lawrence Loy, 54, of Denver, and Arif Tanai, 26, of Clarkston, Georgia, were charged with child solicitation by electronic communication device for a child age 13 to 16 on Sept. 6-9.
Loy was charged with a third-degree felony that can lead up to six years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Tanai’s charge is fourth-degree felony that can lead up to 18 months in prison and a fine up to $5,000.
Tucumcari Police Chief Patti Lopez credited one of her officers, Steven Chaney, for his idea in starting the operation. Chaney also filed the affidavits in both cases.
According to online court documents, Chaney created an online profile for a 15-year-old girl named Amy. Loy texted the number and offered to rendezvous at a Tucumcari truck stop for a sex act for $100. After his arrest, Loy said he was a pastor and wanted to help people on the website.
In the Tanai case, Chaney built an online profile for a 15-year-old girl on the Grindr dating site that was contacted by Tanai. According to the affidavit, Tanai offered to rendezvous with the girl for sex acts at a Tucumcari truck stop or a nearby hotel.
Both were released after cash bond after their arrests and arraignments. They face court hearings in early October.
The operation was organized in cooperation with the Tucumcari Police Department, Quay County Sheriff’s Office, 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Tucumcari, with training from the Alabama-based Covenant Rescue Group, a nonprofit organization that battles human trafficking.
According to a news release from District Attorney Tim Rose, “intelligence obtained during this operation showed an active interest in child related human trafficking that exists in our area, especially from likely predators who travel through the area.”
“This operation was the first of many operations that are likely to be conducted in this area,” Rose added.