Bodycam: Busted Sex Predator Insists Explicit Texts Were a Joke

Go ahead and move in and take him down. >> Don't be in a sexual conversation with a. child and you will never have to meet. us. >> Alleged sexual predators busted in sting. operations. Whether they're accused of. possessing child sexual abuse material, having inappropriate conversations with. apparent teens online or actually trying. to meet up with those teens to engage in. sex, these accused criminals are being. taken down all across the United States. We're going to take a look at a few. arrests out of New Mexico that got. potentially dangerous abusers off the. street. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by.

Law Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. Law enforcement agencies all across the. country are making predator bus a top. priority. We have covered this a lot. here on Sidebar. I've sat down with. Chris Hansen many times to talk about. his now infamous style of tracking and. busting people for allegedly trying to. meet up with a minor for sex. happens. way too often, too many times. So today. we want to do something different. Today. I want to take you through some recent. stinks where arrests, interviews,

evidence searches, they were all caught. on bodywn cameras. Talk about important. evidence at an upcoming trial. Right. So. first I want to take you back to the. fall of 2024. Multiple agencies, local, state, federal, they came together for. Operation Overwatch. And this was in. Bernal Leo County, New Mexico. and it. ended up nabbing several suspects. >> The top uh public safety priority um of. our special agents and prosecutors is.

the protection of children. And so. today, it's with great pride that I. announced the results of a uh weeksl. long operation uh operation overwatch, which just last week culminated in the. arrest of eight individual suspects and. the issuance of an additional an. additional arrest warrant uh for. individuals who were engaged with. undercover agents from several different. agencies. not only um our agents here at. NMDOJ but also the Federal Bureau of.

Investigations, Homeland Security. Investigations, the Bernalo County. Sheriff's Office, San Santa Fe Police. Department, the Albuquerque Police. Department. Um over the last several. weeks, uh various agents working in an. undercover capacity established decoy. accounts on a number of different uh. non-traditional. um digital platforms digital messaging. services including kick, Discord, Skip. the Games, MoSpace, Grinder, uh Fetife, and Sniff um Sniffies. what they were.

able to do were was to establish uh both. underage personas and and presented. themselves as either minor children or. as adults uh usually parents who were. offering to traffic children for sex. >> So, as part of this operation, officers. went undercover and what they did was. they posed as teenagers online to see if. adults contacted them for sexual. contact. According to police reports, APD officer Josh Dennison posted an.

advertisement to skiptheames.eu. Skiptheames is a website which. advertises itself as the world's largest. listing of independent escorts, agency. escorts, other adult service providers. Posts are updated constantly. Skip the. games. Officer Dennison posed on the. website as a female escort. Well, not. long after that post went up, a man. later identified as Raphael Rosas. responded to the phone number that was.

listed in the post. The police report. states Rosas initiated a text message. conversation by writing, "Hey babe, you. available?" The persona responded to the. initial message informing Rosas that she. is younger than she posted and is 15. years old. As the conversation. continues, the persona states that she. is home alone and cannot go out to party. because she is too young. Rosas responds. by suggesting someone could buy alcohol. for her. Rosas later initiated the topic. of meeting in person. When asked by the.

persona what he wants to do, Rosas. avoids directly answering the question. So, according to the report, Rosas sent. several emojis indicating sexual acts. and even said, "I can't say anymore. without it being incriminating. evidence." Lol. You know this. You're 15. texting with an adult. So, talk about a. knowledge component here, right? What a. case. I know. But this is definitely one. we wanted to bring to you. And the. reason that we can do that is because of. the amazing support that we get from our. sponsor, Morgan and Morgan. This is.

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meetup location a few times. This is. according to police, apparently scoping. it out before messaging this undercover. agent, again, thinking it's a. 15-year-old girl, that he was there. And. that is when the officers moved in. >> Hands up. >> Chase the car. >> Keep against the car. Stop. >> Now Rosas is brought inside the.

residence, searched, and then sits down. in a separate room for an interview with. a detective. Basically, I think we all have some kind of idea. why you're here. I have some questions. for you about that, but I want to. respect you, right? So, before I ask any. questions, I'm going to read your agenda. and everything. Okay. Um, I'll just record this whole card here. >> All right, man. Well, I guess what how. we end up here today? >> No comment.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I guess that's that's the big question. for me. Um, it just seems like. an odd place for you to show up. in a house full of bunch of cops. Okay. Um, well, I can I can give you a little. bit of background and correct me where. where I'm wrong,

but my understanding is you were talking. to someone today. on that. Which uh which app which site were you. talking on? No. >> No. Text. Yeah. Okay. And who are you talking to? police. All right. Who do you think you were. talking to? >> Who knows?

Who knows? >> Oh, sorry. My hair is definitely. >> Who knows? >> Who knows? Okay. >> What kind of stuff do you talk about? >> Range. We got Coke. [Music]. Yeah. some evidence. >> Yeah, that was co probably. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, you're saying coach in the same. things that you said?

>> Tested. Yeah. >> Okay. What uh what kind of things did. they say to coach you in the same. incriminating. just. the person you're talking to? >> Yeah. like what what kind of stuff were they. doing in the project? What are we going to do? Oh, is that it? Okay. Keep product.

[Music]. Well, I mean, it's probably not a. surprise to you, but I obviously know. what was said in those chats. I have the. whole the chat blog, right? So, at one. point I know that you texted that you. were going to was it eat their kitty? Is. that what he said? >> Yeah. Trump says. Trump says. >> Yeah. All those immigrants. I'm going to eat cats.

>> You're going to eat cats? >> Yeah. All dogs, too. >> And what. what did they say to coax you in the. same event? >> What are we going to do? >> And that that made you want to say. anything. >> Okay. >> What Trump says? >> Okay. >> How old was the person that you were. talking to? >> He insinuated they were 15. >> Okay. When you say insinuated,

>> what do you mean? >> They said. >> they said they were 15. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, not this line. Maybe maybe not. They. said they're 15. >> Okay. Um, and then what I guess what were you. planning on doing once you got here? Just hanging out. Smoking. Yes. >> Yeah.

So then. they. >> Yeah, you heard that right. So let me. get this straight. Rosa said, "Yeah, I. wasn't insinuating that I wanted to have. sex with this teen." No, I was making a. joke in reference to President Donald. Trump's debunk comments that some. immigrants were eating dogs and cats. Ah, cleared it up. So, this detective, of course, is not buying this. And then.

he pivots to another part of this text. message conversation between Rosas and. the undercover officer where Rosas wrote. that all of this felt a little Chris. Hanseny pointing to possible, you know, consciousness of guilt. You know, what. you're doing is wrong. Take a look. >> Why were you worried that you were. talking to the like a Chris Hansen. thing? >> No comment. No comment. Okay, then I'll tell you what it seems to me.

is you seem really nervous that even. chatting with a 15-year-old. You're. going to show up to a house to meet a. 15-year-old and talk about eating candy. for a 15-year-old. You see how the totality of all that. together. makes it seem like you were coming here. to engage in some kind of sexual. relation with a 15-year-old. >> No contact. That was even kitty or a truck with the. dogs. who came over just two. That's it.

You think that's a reasonable story? >> So, the detective tries again to connect. with Rosas and get him to open up, but. he doesn't really get far. >> We're just going to walk inside this. here. >> Well, so here's the thing. Like uh the reason I'm coming out and. I'm talking to you about just stuff. directly, right? Like I could beat. around the bush and I could pretend like.

we don't know what we know, >> right? And you can pretend like you. don't know what you don't know. >> We know. >> So we know what we know. >> Well, well, part of my job is to figure. out how we got here, right? >> You know exactly how we got here. >> Well, you could be on my way. >> I'm I'm curious about your background. You probably have it all. >> Well, I I do have a good amount of background. on you,

>> right? Like I'm not I'm not completely. ignorant. >> But I'm just wondering what what your. past led you into texting with a. 15-year-old today. >> Absolutely nothing. >> Nothing. >> No. >> Have you ever. um. [Music]. Have you ever had any kind of relations. with a juvenile before? >> No. >> No.

>> What about an adult when you were. juvenile? >> No. >> No. And see the these are the kind of things. that I'm curious about. It's like. professional curiosity. >> Yeah. >> Right. Like I've I've met guys before. who. one occasion to my man. You don't want. to know about me on my way. This isn't. >> you don't need to know about me. Can I. be on my way? >> Soon enough.

>> Um. I I'm just really curious like you said. the the way that people mind, right? Like I met a guy one time who he had. let's he had child pornography on his. phone and. what I came to learn through that. investigation is that when he was a kid. he had looked up pictures for kids that. were the same age as him, right? It was. like age appropriate. and it seems like there might have been. something that stuck in his mind because.

that was kind of his first experience of. looking at maybe pictures and that's. just kind of what he always looked at. and he always just kind of stuck in that. same age. So as he got older he kept. looking at the to me like something like. that makes sense, right? >> I'm just wondering if there's anything. like in your past. No that led you here today. No. >> No. Um, all right.

I'm I'm just a dumb cotton, man. I I. like to learn. >> Me, too. >> I like to be enlightened. >> And I feel like talking to you today. could. >> teach me something. Teach you, brother. Well, >> everyone's got something to teach, right? All right. So, the the phone that you were chatting. on, that's mine.

>> What's that? >> That's mine. >> It's your phone. >> Yeah. >> Where's that phone? >> It was in the car. >> In the car? >> Right there. >> Okay. >> So, what I'm going to have to do is I'm. going to have to get a search warrant. for your car. All right. And then what. I'm going to do from there is I'm going. to get a search for your phone. >> Is there anything related to all this. that I would find once I get into your. phone? >> No. Other than the text messages.

pictures of my couple. videos I made with a couple girls, couple flash pictures I guess. It's all. pretty normal to be honest. Like like I. get into people's phones basically on a. weekly basis and you know part of the. job we have to review that stuff. If it's personal use whatever we we.

don't care. My worry is like is there. any are there any photos of the emails. or anything? >> And according to the police report on. the bus when Rosas was being transferred. to booking he made some interesting. comments. Quote, "Following the. interview, BCSO Detective Delaney Grimes. was monitoring Rosas prior to booking. Detective Grimes informed me that during. this time, Rosa stated he was going to. have to move. When asked what he meant, Rosas told Detective Grimes that he. lives near Truman Middle School and. would not be allowed to live there if.

he's registered as a sex offender." Now, Rosus in the end was charged with child. solicitation by electronic communication. device and attempted criminal sexual. penetration of a minor. And his. prediction came true. He had to register. as a sex offender when he entered a. guilty plea to the child solicitation. charge. He was also sentenced to spend 9. months in jail. This is according to New. Mexico court records. And during their. news conference, the agencies involved. in Operation Overwatch warned potential. predators that they are out there and. they are watching.

>> I hope this is really a kind of a wakeup. call to all these predators that come. and prey on our children, our most. vulnerable. Whether you're within the. state or outside of the state, there is. no good reason to ever go after our most. vulnerable. Every year, thousands of. children become victims of crimes. Whether it's through kidnappings, violent attacks, sexual abuse, human. trafficking, or online predators. Today. is another important example of law. enforcement's commitment to bring child. predators to justice and disrupt all.

forms of exploitation. The lack of. understanding of online child sexual. exploitation and abuse along with. increased technology and use among our. children and teens has created a space. for these crimes, these criminals and. these predators to flourish. However, criminals and predators operating in. that space should know that we are also. in that space. We were in that space. last week and we're going to be in that. space again soon. This successful effort and collaboration.

amongst the partners that are here was. started to protect our vulnerable. population. This operation did shine. the light on a widespread issue. prompting us to begin our plans for our. next operation. If you're out there and. you're le lurking in the dark looking. for our children and teens, we're going. to be back there looking for you. Don't. be in a sexual conversation with a child. and you will never have to meet us. It's. never acceptable. It's never acceptable.

Stay away from it. Get help or as. sheriff and others said, we can help. you. You probably won't like the help. that we're going to give. So, get. yourself help. And I've double down in. everything. The parents have good. trusting conversations with your kids. You can try to go through their phone. for days. They'll just outsmart you half. the time. Really, you just have to have. a good conversation with them and and. hopefully they come to you when they see. something scary on online or on their. phone and talk to you about it. But. these operations reduce the amount of. hands-on sex abuse cases my detectives.

have to get assigned. So, I love these. operations and we can't wait to do the. next one. Okay. Now, earlier this year, a man who was already on the sex. offender registry was arrested for. possession and distribution of child. sexual abuse material, also called. CESAM. And a search of his home. presented kind of a unique challenge. because it appears he had some hoarding. tendencies. I'm not sure. I can't open that window. >> Nope. What's in here?

Oh my god. Oh, nasty. Holy cow. >> Really don't want that one. Bugs on the. ground, too. >> Oh, that's a legit He's got a setup, dude. >> Hell yeah. Yep. Oh, look at these tires. >> Um, >> oh my, dude. Let me grab this. Not the.

worst loop stand for sure. >> This This is bad. It's not the worst. >> Why are you still photo? No, we're good. I'm good. I just wanted to get the. overalls with the room stuff. Excuse me, gentlemen. Get the hell out of your way. Is there anyone else back there? No, sir. That is the apartment of Mario Troy. Galangelo, a 53-year-old who already had. multiple prior arrests for child porn. This is according to the Department of. Justice's Internet Crimes Against. Children Division. So, as Kangelo was.

taken into custody, officers, trainees, they searched the apartment for any. electronic devices the suspect could. have used to share or save CSAM. >> You guys are going to start in the back. >> Yeah, let's start in the back and work. our way here till we get Byron gets in. here. >> Okay. Moist and meaty. That's the name of the. dog food. >> Oh, we need Post-it notes. Hey, Bishop. >> He's not there. Post-it notes and. Sharpies, please. I can't look like. this.

>> Get some fresh air, brother. >> Did we already see this camera here? >> Yeah, we haven't started this room yet. >> Okay. I'm going to burn all my.

See the little camera set up there? >> Yeah. >> You guys are working on this room? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I think so. >> We're already everything else is pretty. much finished. This is the last room. >> One cell phone that we found back there. that we'll get. >> Okay. >> And we're just going to focus on this. room. >> And despite the fact that he was in. handcuffs and his apartment was swarming. with investigators, Kangelo seemed.

surprised that he was being taken to. jail. All right, we're actually going to check. him over now. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> His name is Mario, right? >> Yeah. Okay. Okay, Mario, I'm going to. put this seat belt on you. Okay. >> Let's go over right here. >> Why? >> So,

you're going to be booked into jail. today. Okay. and I'll have them explain. to you why and all that just so I'm not. telling you any misinformation. Okay. Sorry. I think I was the one to break. the news to him. I said sorry. I think I. was the one to break the news to him. that he was going to jail. It's fine. Doesn't matter. >> Hello. >> What's up? >> Uh the guy asked me about my keys so you.

guys can secure the place. >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Um, if they're not hanging by the. thermostat inside the inside the door, then they're hanging off my uh. microphone on my desk. >> Okay. Appreciate, sir. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, we're going. to be driving over to the prisoner. transport center. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Sounds good. >> Well, here's the thing. It turns out. Kangelo had moved from West Virginia to.

New Mexico and legally changed his name. from Troy Shelby to Mario Troy Kangelo. Now, Bernal Leo County prosecutors, they. charged him with two felonies. Possession, a visual medium of sexual. exploitation of a child under 13, as. well as distribution of visual medium of. sexual exploitation of children. And. according to New Mexico court records, he was convicted in March of this year. and sentenced to spend the next six. years in prison. So going back to. Operation Overwatch, authorities.

arrested eight suspected online. predators. The attorney general provided. information about the suspects and the. details about what they're accused of. doing. Particularly, I have to say, a. few gross ones. For example, you have. Steven Charles Phillips, a middle school. teacher, was arrested for trying to pay. a dad to have sex with his 12-year-old. daughter. The father was a decoy, an. undercover officer who had proof of. explicit conversations with Phillips, where the man said he was looking for a. baby girl to spoil. Then you have this.

woman, Samantha Clark, was apprehended. trying to meet up with someone she. thought was selling their child for sex. This is according to the attorney. general's office. During the news. conference, a reporter asked about the. skin crawling idea of a parent selling. their own child. Take a look. >> Do you suspect that there are actual. parents out there who are prostituting. their children? >> Yes, there there there are absolutely um. parents that are trafficking children, their own children um online and online. spaces. Unfortunately, I was an internet. crimes against children prosecutor. I.

saw this in my experience. I know Kyle. has worked on these cases and I'll have. him come forward, but this is something. that we see on a daily basis. Are you. And then to follow up on that, are you. targeting them too, trying to catch. them? >> Yeah. I mean, I' I've charged a parent. with trafficking their their child. Um, so parents in that feeling of greed or. or whatever it is will will do anything. sometimes to make money or pay off a. debt. So, um, we're aware of it. It's. more rare, of course, than just some of.

these general idiots that show up, but. it's absolutely out there and it's. especially dangerous because a parent is. who the kid trusts. It is their it is. their person, right? And so, the kid is. definitely going to do whatever mom or. dad says. So, we absolutely want to find. 100% of parents that are are doing this. kind of behavior and and they can meet. us. The New Mexico Attorney General's. Office, the Bernalo County Sheriff, the. FBI, others, they all promised to. continue their pursuit of justice. against alleged sexual predators to keep.

our kids safe. And after seeing what we. just saw today, we are hoping that is. true. That is all we have for you right. now here on Sidebar. Everybody, thank. you so much for joining us. And as. always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you. should get your podcasts. I'm Jesse. Weber. I'll speak to you next time. [Music].