9 men arrested in Greenwood, Indiana; US Secret Service joins sting operation

A child solicitation sting is being conducted in Greenwood, Johnson County, Indiana, United States. It started on November 28, 2023.

That day, a total of nine men were arrested on East Countyline Road in Greenwood where they thought they would meet a child aged 14 or 15. One of them is from West Virginia, USA while the eight others are Indiana residents.

Over several months, the U.S. Secret Service helped the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office orchestrate the sting operation. The police departments of Bargersville, Johnson County; Franklin, Johnson County and Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana also participated.

All of the nine arrestees were booked into the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Jail in Franklin. Here is the list:

1. Darrel L. Hutchings Jr., 46, of Southport, Marion County, Indiana was arrested for child solicitation, dissemination of harmful matter and making unlawful proposition.
2. Davinder Singh Saini, 64, of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana was arrested for child solicitation.
3. Harold C. Davis Jr., 52, of Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia was arrested for child solicitation,
4. Ivan Cabrel Kamgain Tayou, 21, of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana was arrested for dissemination of harmful matter on three counts.
5. Manish Sharma, 38, of Carmel, Hamilton County, Indiana was arrested for child solicitation and making unlawful proposition.
6. Mario Ramirez Gonzalez, 52, of Thorntown, Boone County, Indiana was arrested for child solicitation.
7. Omar Morales Sabino, 30, of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana was arrested for child solicitation.
8. Rudy Joel Matute Cabrera, 21, of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana was arrested for child solicitation.
9. Scott Douglas Merrill, 57, of Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana was arrested for child solicitation.

Formed on July 5, 1865, the U.S. Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is mandated by the U.S. Congress with two missions, which are protecting the leaders of the U.S. and safeguarding the financial and critical infrastructure of the country.

The agency used to be under the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Since 2003, the agency has been under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In 1995, Kimberly Cheatle joined the U.S. Secret Service. On September 17, 2022, she assumed office as the agency’s director.