TRUSSVILLE, Ala. — Six men are facing serious charges after being arrested in an undercover child sex exploitation and anti-human trafficking operation conducted by the Trussville Police Department.
The two-day sting, held on July 31 and August 1, was carried out by the department’s Criminal Investigations and Special Operations Division within the city limits. According to law enforcement, the suspects believed they were communicating with minors aged 15 or younger online but were actually corresponding with undercover officers.
“When the suspects traveled to meet the child, they were instead met by undercover investigators and arrested on the spot,” said Lt. Clint Riner of the Trussville Police Department. He noted that the suspects located undercover officers through social media and various websites and arranged to pay for illegal sexual activity.
The arrested individuals are:
Yelsintl Isrrael Cardoza-Rivera, 24, Birmingham
Lilisra James Creer, 34, Birmingham
Robert Ronald Lassitter, 63, Summerdale
Michael Oliver Trice, 47, Vestavia Hills
Thomas Ray Vigneulle, 35, Pelham
Randy Lamar Ware, 19, Birmingham
All six suspects face two felony charges each: electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. Bond for each suspect was set at $90,000.
Following their arrest, the men were initially booked at the Trussville City Jail. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office then reviewed the evidence and formally charged them. They are now being held at the Jefferson County Jail, although Ware, Creer, and Vigneulle have since bonded out.
Cardoza-Rivera remains in custody under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, authorities confirmed.
