HOLYOKE Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan reported that two individuals were taken into custody Thursday as part of a multi-agency operation aimed at combating online child exploitation.
Members of the Massachusetts State Police SAFE Task Force, Massachusetts State Police Gang West, Hampden County SPDU, Holyoke Police Department, and Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victims Unit participated in the operation.
For the operation, law enforcement officials used a motel in the Holyoke area and put a fictitious teenage escort advertisement online.
People approached an undercover police officer and asked for sexual favors in return for cash.
The suspects were told by the undercover agent that she was fifteen years old.
Mohamed Bendrao, 44, of South Hadley, arrived at the motel at approximately 6:20 p.m. and was taken into custody.
Chicopee resident Michael Menard, 63, came at the hotel at approximately 8 p.m. and was also taken into custody.
Both men are accused with enticing a minor under the age of sixteen, engaging in sexual activity with a minor under the age of eighteen for a fee, and attempting to commit a crime (attempted child rape).
According to police, the operation was carried out to lessen the demand for the commercial sexual exploitation of youngsters.
