Wenatchee, WA–Three individuals, including a private music teacher, face state criminal charges for communicating with minors for immoral purposes following an undercover operation spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Matthew Kelzenberg, 42, of Cashmere, Wash., who works as a private music teacher, Eduardo P. Ramos, 19, and Jose Manuel Ortega Ibarra, 21, both of Wenatchee, were arrested earlier this month by HSI special agents in collaboration with the Wenatchee Police Department and Chelan County Sheriff’s office.
The three defendants fell under suspicion after they allegedly engaged in sexually explicit communications with undercover investigators who were posing as minors in internet chat rooms. Authorities allege all three men individually attempted to meet with the supposed “minors” for the purpose of having sexual contact. They were arrested when they arrived at the predetermined meet locations.
The three men had their initial hearings before Chelan County Superior Court Judge Nakata May 8. They were subsequently transferred to the Chelan County Jail pending their arraignment, which is scheduled for May 22.
The arrests were the result of a three-day operation which began May 3 and involved investigators in HSI’s Wenatchee, Seattle, Spokane, Blaine, and Yakima field offices.
