A 26-year-old Indian national, Nagaraju Balkam, was arrested earlier this month in a multi-day undercover operation targeting online child sexual predators, the Santa Fe Police confirmed.
Balkam was one of four men taken into custody after detectives used undercover online profiles to engage individuals attempting to exploit minors.
He faces charges of Sexual Exploitation of Children by Prostitution and Child Solicitation via Electronic Communication Device and remains in custody. Three others; Eduardo Gerardo Ramirez, 59, of Santa Fe; Harold Lee Adams, 55, of Lubbock, Texas; and Tomas Tolcha Cacjo, 29, of Santa Fe, were also arrested on child exploitation-related charges.
Police said the arrests resulted from an undercover operation by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit and the Special Victims Team targeting online predators. Details of communications were withheld due to the case’s sensitivity. Prosecutors will file formal charges soon, with severe penalties under New Mexico law, and officials warned that further arrests may follow.
