A 75-year-old man, who has legally changed his name to the festive figure, was one of 11 individuals arrested over the weekend in a covert operation targeting child sex predators in Louisiana.
The operation, conducted by the Kenner Police Department, targeted individuals using dating apps and online platforms to solicit sex from minors. The man, described as having a distinctive long white beard and a round physique, used a dating app to contact what he believed was a 15-year-old boy.
Undercover detectives posed as the minor as he engaged in explicit conversations about sex acts and arranged to meet. He was arrested without incident when he showed up at the location thinking he was meeting the teenager.
The suspect faces charges of indecent behavior with a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. The police chief noted that the suspect has invited parents to let young children sit on his lap for photo opportunities, raising concerns about the vulnerability of children online.
The police chief stated that the case is a cautionary tale to parents and guardians, emphasizing that the department will continue to identify and prosecute predators who use the internet to exploit children.
This marks the second recent case involving a man known as Santa Claus in child sex predator stings. A similar case in Florida in April involved a 68-year-old man who attempted to pay $200 for sex acts with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
