Detectives with the Reno Police Regional Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit helped arrest 17 people during Operation Coast to Coast.
Operation Coast to Coast began in 2024 as an initiative of the Human Trafficking Training Center to spur a nationwide response to trafficking. “Conducting proactive human trafficking operations identifies victims and holds traffickers accountable,” said Dan Nash, founder of the Human Trafficking Training Center and a former human trafficking investigator. “Agencies across America obtained our training, then came together under Operation Coast to Coast to help victims, arrest traffickers, and make their communities safer. As more agencies obtain this training, these numbers will grow and make trafficking inhospitable in America.”
The Center says a coalition of over 250 law enforcement agencies and organizations including Safe House Project, Our Rescue, Traffic Jam and Delta Air Lines helped in the recent operation.
The multi-state operation was conducted from the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center and provided services to 74 adult victims and 5 juvenile victims (including a 1-year-old) and resulted in 125 arrests across 22 states.
The Operation also resulted in the recovery of at least $1,017,975 in U.S> money and assets.
The following individuals were arrested on the listed charges:
* Kevin Finnerty, 26, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Waylon Hicks, 34, Possession of a dangerous weapon, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Jeremy Michaud, 51, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Andrew Bates, 56, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Li Zhao, 38, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Alejandro Serna, 37, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Zachary Sanchez, 26, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Ivan Lopez-Gomez, 24, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Jonathan Lemus, 38, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Yoiman Barbosa-Vera, 30, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Roberto Chagolla-Gonzalez, 42, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Thomas Wheeler, 47, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer), possession of controlled substance, methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia
* Tyler Wheeler, 39, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Kent Wood, 79, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Jonathan Aguas-Gomez, 22, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer), obstructing and resisting
* Fahim Billah, 27, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
* Carlos Duga, 41, Solicitation of Prostitution (customer)
In 2025, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified reported trafficking situations involving more than 21,000 victims nationwide, including 349 in Nevada.
If you have information related to this case, child sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, or prostitution, contact the HEAT Unit at RPDHEAT@reno.gov or HEATTips@washoecounty.gov. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Secret Witness by calling or texting 775-322-4900
(Reno Police contributed to this report.)
