Petaluma Man Arrested for Intent to Engage in Sex With Minor

A 23-year-old Petaluma man has been arrested for intent to engage in illicit acts with a minor, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

Shawhan Shams was arrested following an eight-month investigation by Homeland Security in which an agent posed as a sex trafficker who had children available for sex and communicated with Shams via a chat room. 

Shams allegedly expressed intent to engage in illicit sexual contact and physical abuse of a minor and showed up in Santa Clara with items consistent with harming a child, according to investigators.  

The case is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide Homeland Security initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. 

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or by completing its online tip form. 

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