News Summary
Denzel Loyd of Las Vegas has been sentenced to 160 months in prison for child exploitation. He solicited multiple minors for sexual acts via Facebook and faces 15 years of supervised release following imprisonment. The case underscores the serious nature of child exploitation and the need for strict legal action against offenders, as part of a broader law enforcement initiative in the area targeting online child predators.
Las Vegas – A Las Vegas man, Denzel Loyd, has been sentenced to 160 months in prison after being convicted of child exploitation offenses. In addition to his prison sentence, Loyd will face 15 years of supervised release upon completion of his time behind bars.
Loyd was found guilty of four counts of coercion and enticement for using Facebook to solicit multiple minors for sexual acts and to send sexually explicit images and videos. Disturbingly, at least one child victim reportedly complied with Loyd’s demands for sex acts in exchange for food.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has emphasized that this case underlines the serious nature of child exploitation offenses, highlighting the importance of strong legal repercussions for those who prey on children. As a result of his conviction, Loyd is mandated to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and he must maintain this registration throughout his supervised release.
This ruling comes in the wake of a coordinated law enforcement operation that occurred in Las Vegas on April 28 and 29, 2025. During this two-day effort, authorities arrested ten individuals accused of exploiting minors online. The operation was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative that combats child sexual exploitation, which began in May 2006.
The arrested suspects face a range of serious charges, including luring a child through a computer for sexual acts and attempted sexual assault of a child under 14 years old. The individuals involved include:
- Daniel Hennigh (22)
- Vaughn Catillon (51)
- Shawn Crawford (51)
- Andrew Mosely (23)
- Deepen Kothari (42)
- Oliver Cruz Tejeda (30)
- Kevin Rodriguez-Umana (30)
- David Jones (32)
- Levi Smith III (39)
- Alistair Cooper (28)
Charges related to the suspects include preparing and distributing child sexual abuse material among other offenses. The combined efforts of the Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the FBI, North Las Vegas Police, Henderson Police, and Homeland Security Investigations highlight the seriousness of these crimes and the collaborative effort needed to combat child exploitation.
In light of these recent arrests, law enforcement officials strongly urge parents to be proactive in discussing online safety with their children. Monitoring digital activities and maintaining open communication can help protect minors from potential online predators. Parents are also encouraged to report any information they may have regarding these cases to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force or to submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
This case serves as a critical reminder of the urgency in addressing child exploitation and the collective responsibility of society to safeguard its most vulnerable members.
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Additional Resources
- 8 News Now
- Wikipedia: Child exploitation
- Nevada Globe
- Google Search: Child sexual exploitation
- Las Vegas Sun
- Google Scholar: Child exploitation laws
- Hoodline
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child abuse
- News 3 LV
- Google News: Las Vegas child exploitation arrests
