Joint operation targeting child sex predators leads to nine arrests

Published on January 25, 2025

Nine individuals are facing nearly 40 criminal charges after being arrested during a two-day joint operation targeting child predators in Huntsville on Thursday, Jan. 23 and Friday, Jan. 24.

The operation, led by the Huntsville Police Department (HPD) in collaboration with the Madison County District Attorney's Office, Morgan County Sheriff's Office and Covenant Rescue Group, aimed to identify, investigate and apprehend individuals exploiting children online.

The offenders solicited and targeted decoys they believed to be minors via chat rooms, social media platforms and other online portals. They agreed to pay for sexual acts with minors and traveled to designated locations in Huntsville to commit these crimes. The following individuals were arrested:

• Elias Marco, 31, Gulfport, TX
  • Charges: Two counts of first-degree human trafficking, two counts of electronic solicitation of a child and two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
• Floyd Corey Powell Jr., 31, Harvest, AL
  • Charges: First-degree human trafficking, distribute/transmit obscene material to a child by an electronic device, electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
• Michael John Fike, 53, Somerville, AL
  • Charges: First-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
• Shivam Patel, 23, Muscle Shoals, AL
  • Charges: Two counts of first-degree human trafficking, two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and two counts of electronic solicitation of a child.
• Michael Anthony Stevens, 33, Albertville, AL
  • Charges: Two counts of first-degree human trafficking, two counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and two counts of electronic solicitation of a child.
• Juilo Tomas Juan, 22, Decatur, AL
  • Charges: First-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
• Huinac Aralto Elias Gilmar, 45, Carthage, MO
  • Charges: First-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
• Geovany Emer Sarmiento, 32, Huntsville, AL
  • Charges: First-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
• Bryan Tse Nde, 27, Huntsville, AL
  • Charges: First-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.

This active investigation may lead to additional charges. Arrest details, including photographs, are available on the Madison County Sheriff's Office website.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Bonds for the arrested individuals were set by the bond schedule adopted by the state legislature.