Indio man arrested for attempting to solicit sex online with a juvenile

Indio man arrested after sting operation on individuals who were soliciting children, online, to commit sexual acts.

Investigators, posing as a 14-year-old girl from Twentynine Palms, were contacted, through Craigslist, by 75-year-old Indio resident Joseph Colorossi.

According to the San Bernardino’s Sheriff’s Department, during their conversations, Colorossi sent sexual messages and explicit photos of himself. He also set up a meeting with the investigator in Twentynine Palms, for the purpose of sexual acts.

Thursday evening, Colorossi arrived at the location to meet the juvenile. Detectives from the Morongo Basin Station, took Colorossi into custody, without incident. Colorossi brought a large number of sexual items to the location.

Detectives served a search warrant at his residence and discovered evidence of other sexual encounters, involving multiple female juveniles.

Colorossi was arrested and booked at the Morongo Basin Jail for Contacting a minor to commit a felony. He is being held on a bail amount of $1,000,000.

Detectives are attempting to identify and locate the additional victims in this case. Colorossi has ties to Indio, Palm Desert, the Coachella Valley, as well Puyallup, Washington. Anyone with information related to the investigations is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175