APD arrests three on child sexual exploitation charges

Three people, including a student physician, have been arrested and charged in an Albuquerque Police Department investigation into sexual exploitation of children, dubbed “Operation Phoenix.”

The investigation, which was based on cybertips sent to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, led to the filing of charges against Kevin Weiss, Manuel Gomez and Irick Charles. The investigation into Weiss by APD’s Child Exploitation detectives was prompted by an anonymous tip, APD said in a news release.

The tip, which alleged that Weiss was involved in illicit activities that could potentially endanger future victims, provided crucial information that led law enforcement to focus on Weiss and ultimately secure a search warrant, the release added.

Following the discovery of substantial evidence and child sexual abuse material in Weiss’ possession, an arrest warrant was issued for Weiss. He was arrested on June 25 in Farmington after a traffic stop showed a warrant for his arrest, an APD spokeswoman said on Friday evening.

Weiss couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday and it wasn’t clear if he has an attorney.

Weiss was named the 2024 Student Doctor of the Year by the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces.

“This honor recognizes Weiss’s outstanding commitment to academic excellence and leadership. Mr. Weiss has distinguished himself as a dedicated and compassionate student doctor. Known for his unwavering dedication to patient welfare, Weiss consistently demonstrates the qualities of an exemplary future physician,” states a Burrell news release.

An APD criminal complaint filed last week said that Weiss “currently works ‘rotations’ at several different family health clinics and has ongoing access to children.” Weiss has an Albuquerque address and lives alone. He is the father of a 4-year-old girl, the complaint states.

Last week, the mother of the child sought an “order of protection” from a state district judge for her and her daughter, citing the investigation.

Weiss, 28, is charged with sexual exploitation of children by possession, sexual exploitation of children by distribution and sexual exploitation of children by manufacture.

In late May, detectives also executed a search warrant at a home in the 10000 block of Mullhacen NW for a cybertip alleging Gomez possessed an image of a girl about 7 years old. During his interview with detectives, Gomez confessed to having the image in his possession, APD said in its news release. Gomez, 45, was indicted earlier this month on a charge of sexual exploitation of children by possession. He was released pending trial.

Detectives executed another warrant in the 10000 block of Cibola Loop NW for a cybertip referencing Charles. Detectives found more than 30 electronics inside the residence. APD said during his interview, Charles, 21, confessed to viewing child sexual abuse material and numerous images were confirmed on his cellphone. He was arrested in late May and charged with sexual exploitation of children by possession and sexual exploitation of a child by manufacture. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center.