Rio Rancho man arrested for child sex trafficking in California

ALBUQUERQUE — A Rio Rancho man was arrested for child sex trafficking crimes on a warrant out of California.

According to a Dec. 31 release from the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit, John Kay, 46, was arrested for contacting a minor with sexual intent, human trafficking, arranging to meet with a minor for sexual intent and pandering a minor under the age of 16 at the Albuquerque Sunport.

Kay is to be extradited to California from Sandoval County, according to a Jan. 2 order filed in the 13th Judicial Court.

Shasta County's release states that the unit began an operation in August 2025 involving an undercover decoy posing as a 14-year-old girl online, who chatted with a 46-year-old man, later identified as Kay.

During subsequent conversations, Kay made plans with the undercover decoy for her to fly to New Mexico for the purposes of having sexual relations, it states. Kay offered the undercover decoy money for her plane ticket and additional money to be earned by performing sexual favors.

Additionally, Kay instructed the undercover decoy to go along with a fictious story claiming he had a daughter the decoy had met online. Kay then communicated via text with who he believed to be the undercover decoy’s guardian — also an undercover agent — to get permission for the undercover decoy to come stay with him and his “daughter” in New Mexico. Kay arranged with the “guardian” to pick up the undercover decoy at the airport in Albuquerque on Dec. 30, 2025. 

Kay's actions resulted in an arrest warrant.

Albuquerque Police and Rio Rancho Police were notified of the case, the release added, and on Dec. 29, detectives with the unit travelled to Albuquerque. Working in cooperation with local police, Kay was detained at the airport and a search warrant was served at Kay’s residence, where electronics were seized.

Kay was arrested and booked into the Sandoval County Jail on human trafficking charges in New Mexico as well as the Shasta County warrant.

Kay’s bail is set at $1.2 million, and he is awaiting extradition to Shasta County.

"The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho Police Departments for their assistance in this investigation. This case also serves as a reminder to the public that online predators actively seek to exploit children through social media, gaming platforms, and messaging applications," the release states. "The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office urges parents and guardians to maintain open communication with their children about online activity, monitor digital interactions, and educate minors about the dangers of sharing personal information or communicating with unknown individuals. Any suspicious or inappropriate online contact involving a minor should be reported to law enforcement."

Kay could face up to 20 years in California prison if he is convicted.