Yuma arrests five in child exploitation sting and revives 1996 murder case with FBI reward

Law enforcement agencies in Yuma, Arizona, conducted a multi‑agency operation called “Operation Tear Drop” that resulted in the arrest of five people, aged from their 20s to 60s, on charges of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking. The operation involved the Yuma Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other local agencies, with undercover officers posing as minors online.

Separately, the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office announced a reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the 1996 sexual assault and murder of 10‑year‑old Amberly Mendoza in Yuma. The victim was found unresponsive in her bedroom; the cause of death was listed as asphyxiation. The FBI urges anyone with information to contact its tip line or Yuma Police.