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12 suspects arrested in connection to Sacramento Valley child porn investigation

CBS News Live
CBS News Sacramento Live

SACRAMENTO – Detectives have announced the arrest of 12 suspects from around the Sacramento area after an investigation into Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, the two-week operation focused on identifying people suspected of downloading child pornography. A task force comprised of 18 law enforcement agencies from across the region helped in the investigation.

The investigation was given the name "Operation Monster Mash" and the results were announced on Halloween. In total, 12 suspects ranging in age from 32 to 63 years old were arrested in the Sacramento region.

Tens of thousands of CSAM images were recovered during the operation, detectives say – with one of the suspects allegedly having more than 5 terabytes of CSAM images.

The suspects are facing a variety of felony charges, including possession of child porn. One of the suspects, 40-year-old Citrus Heights resident Josh Sevilla, is also facing 12 counts of lewd acts with a minor by force or fear.

sac-sheriff-csam-investigation-12-arrested.jpg
Booking photos of some of the suspects arrested as a result of the investigation. Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

A full list of suspects arrested is as follows:

• SANTOS ABRAHAM SANCHEZ 
53 Years Old, X-5067710

• GARY PAUL GAUTHIER
63 Years Old, X-4018501

• CHRISTOPHER KENT BOWMAN
38 Years Old, X-4948546

• JOSH STEVEN SEVILLA
40 Years Old, X-3735895

• JOSEPH JOHN DEANGELIS
53 Years Old, X-2330042

• MICHAEL BRADFORD STEALEY
45 Years Old, X-4655355

• JOSHUA ALAN AKINS
35 Years Old, X-5470708

• THOMAS RIDER PLOWRIGHT
55 Years Old, X-5470712

• MARC KEVIN FLORESCA
32 Years Old, X-4995021

• MATTHEW TODD BERG
50 Years Old, X-3028868

• ROBERT OWEN GUNWALL
35 Years Old, X-5259285

• JAMES STANELY SKAGGS
60 Years Old, X-2503151

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