WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said 54-year-old Ernesto Ramon Mercado was arrested and charged in connection to a string of sexual assault cases that took place between 2008 and 2012 in D.C. and Maryland. Police said Mercado, dubbed the "Georgetown College Park cuddler," is tied to five cases in Georgetown and Glover Park and one case in College Park that took place between June 26, 2008 and August 31, 2012. MPD said Mercado stalked victims and targeted them while they were drinking or sleeping. 10 Prince George’s County students facing charges for school threats this academic year, police say Victims reported waking up to Mercado raping them and soon after leaving. MPD is investigating the possibility of more cases. Police said these cases are considered “stranger cases” which the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) said are the most difficult to solve. USAO obtained a DNA sample from Mercado on Tuesday and had a match that afternoon. MPD said Mercado was arrested Tuesday night and charged with eight counts of felony sexual abuse. He is facing a maximum of life in prison. Major Disaster Relief funding approved for Virginia Mercado is also suspected of additional crimes such as voyeurism, burglary and home invasion sexual assault offenses in Georgetown and College Park that took place from at least 2006 to 2012. Police have not been able to link him to those cases forensically at this time.