RR man wanted for child solicitation as result of 'Operation Overwatch'

A warrant has been issued for a Rio Rancho man as a result of an undercover chat operation targeting online child predators.

Stephen Joseph Rittereiser, 38, is one of eight individuals arrested or charged with crimes involving an attempt to engage in sexual activity with a minor during “Operation Overwatch,” New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s office announced Monday.

The operation was spearheaded by the New Mexico Department of Justice with support from Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department, Santa Fe Police Department, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

"Agents involved in this operation conducted meticulous surveillance and were strategically staged inside two homes in Albuquerque," said Torrez. "Once inside, they waited for the perpetrators to arrive, ensuring the operation ran smoothly and safely before making the arrests. This coordinated effort is a testament to the expertise and dedication of our team and our law enforcement partners. We will continue to relentlessly pursue predators who target our communities and ensure they are brought to justice."

The suspects contacted decoy accounts created by the NMDOJ and assisting agencies, according to the release from the attorney general. The accounts consisted of underage users and, in some cases, parents who were interested in “offering” their children up for sex in exchange for money. Accounts were hosted on several online sites such as Kik, SkiptheGames, MocoSpace, Discord, Grindr, Fetlife and Sniffies.

“HSI is unwavering in its dedication to working tirelessly with our local, state and federal partners to protect children,” said Jason T. Stevens, acting special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “This enforcement action has effectively removed harmful child predators from our communities, sending a powerful message to those seeking to harm children for their satisfaction. Undoubtedly, it has spared some children from the anguish of being sexually victimized.”

Rittereiser faces a pending count of child solicitation by electronic communication device (child 13-16 years old), which is a fourth-degree felony.

According to the criminal complaint, Rittereiser contacted agents who were posing as a 15-year-old female through an ad on SkiptheGames Oct. 7 and began sending “inappropriate” images and soliciting sex from her despite stating she was 15 years old.

According to the declaration of support, a detective from APD posted the ad on the site and began receiving text messages from a phone number that was later linked to Rittereiser at 6:36 p.m. Oct. 7. Three minutes later, he was informed that the undercover profile was that of a 15-year-old. He immediately began sending messages of a sexual nature, including photos of his genitalia.

The undercover profile again states that she is 15, and a meeting was scheduled, but Rittereiser didn’t show up.

Law enforcement used cellphone records, social media profiles and Motor Vehicle Records to link the phone number and photos to Rittereiser, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He is described as a 5 foot, 11-inch white male weighing 195 pounds with brown eyes and “bald/brown” hair. He faces up to a year and a half in prison.

Others arrested as a result of Operation Overwatch are:

• Rafael Eduardo Rosas, 28, Albuquerque: Charges of child solicitation by electronic communication device (child 13-16 years old) and meets with a child, a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison; and criminal sexual penetration (force or coercion) attempt, a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison.

The AG’s office says he contacted the decoy account of a 15-year-old female and asked if she was a bait cop before asking about her rates. The account confirmed the age of 15, and the next day he contacted her, asking for nude photos and arranged a meeting for “described oral sex.” He arrived at the meeting on Oct. 6 and was arrested.

• Jonathan M. Rodriguez, 30, Albuquerque: Charges of child solicitation by electronic communication device (child under 13), a second-degree felony with up to nine years in prison; and criminal sexual penetration attempt (child under 13), a second-degree felony with up to nine years in prison.

Authorities say Rodriguez contacted and engaged in “illicit” conversations on Kik with an underage, undercover user on Oct. 5. The next day, after confirming her age and sexual history, said he wanted to have sex with her, arriving at the arranged meetup to engage in sexual activity, where he was arrested.

• Matthew Ray Jaramillo, 44, Albuquerque: Charges of child solicitation by electronic communication device (child 13-16 years old) and meets with a child, a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison; and criminal sexual penetration attempt (force or coercion), a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison.

Jaramillo is accused of contacting the decoy account of a 15-year-old via a SkiptheGames ad Oct. 5 and a text conversation ensued that discussed impregnating the girl several times. The conversation continued, and Oct. 8 he referenced “sexually penetrating” the victim before arranging to meet. He was arrested when he showed up for the arranged meeting.

• Stephen Charles Phillips, 51, no address provided: Charges of sexual exploitation of children by prostitution (hires, attempt), a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison; and criminal sexual penetration attempt (child under 13), a second-degree felony with up to nine years in prison.

Officers say they found a posting allegedly made by Phillips on Fetlife Oct. 9 looking for a “Baby girl to spoil” and “try new toys out on” and explicitly discussed sexual penetration. An undercover agent posted as a dad willing to offer his 12-year-old for sex, and the chat moved to Kik. After confirming the child’s age, he requested photos and arranged for a meeting, where he was arrested.

• Mahmoud Telfah, 35, Albuquerque: Charges of child solicitation by electronic communication device (child 13-16 years old) and meets with a child, a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison; criminal sexual penetration (force or coercion) attempt, a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison; and sexual exploitation of children by prostitution (hires, attempt), a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison.

Telfah allegedly connected with an undercover account of a 15-year-old Oct. 8 via an ad on SkiptheGames and contacted the user, confirming the child’s age. He then asked for the price of a “hand j” and followed up by asking for the price of “everything.” On Oct. 9, he arrived at the designated location and was arrested.

• Samantha G. Clark, 35, Sandia Park: Charges of child solicitation by electronic communication device (child under 13), a second-degree felony with up to nine years in prison; criminal sexual penetration attempt (child under 13), a second-degree felony with up to nine years in prison; and sexual exploitation of children by prostitution (attempt), a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison.

An undercover persona posed as a father on Fetlife on Oct. 9 and was contacted by Clark, who was informed that the persona’s “cub” she was interested in was a 12-year-old female. She described liking “everything forced” and was interested in penetrating the child. She was arrested later that day at the meetup location after intentionally soliciting a child for sexual activity.

• Sean A. Rhea, 36, Albuquerque: Charges of child solicitation by electronic communication device (child under 13), a third-degree felony with up to three years in prison; and child solicitation by electronic communication device (child 13-16, a fourth-degree felony with up to 1.5 years in prison.

According to the A.G.’ s office, “Two agents, from different law enforcement agencies were contacted by Rhea, who believed the separate accounts were underage females. On Oct. 3, agents using the online site Locanto were solicited to have sex with Rhea, despite Rhea knowing the user was a 12-year-old girl. Similarly, agents using Badoo, an online dating site, were contacted by Rhea who also began soliciting the child to engage in sexual activity. The NMDOJ worked with BCSO to execute the arrest warrant for the solicitation charge. Rhea is now in custody at MDC.”

• Jonmichael Seagroves, 35, Albuquerque: One charge of child solicitation by electronic communication device (child 13-16), a fourth-degree felony with up to 1.5 years in prison.

Authorities allege Seagroves contacted an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old female from Oct. 1-9 on Mocospace, eventually moving to text message. He solicited sexual acts and sent sexually explicit images of himself to the detective. A warrant was executed for the solicitation charge, and he is now in custody at MDC.

"One of the most horrific crimes the FBI investigates is child exploitation; it’s the reason we pursue these predators so aggressively and in tandem with our law enforcement partners,” said Raul Bujanda, FBI Albuquerque special agent in charge. “Combining resources through such operations sends a unified message that exploiting society’s most vulnerable will not be tolerated, offenders will be caught, and the fullest extent of the law will be applied.”