DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A rapid series of confrontations unfolded across Palm Beach County over the weekend, with a civilian anti-predator group claiming 11 alleged child predators were caught in just three days.
The encounters were livestreamed for hours online and led by 561 Predator Catcher, a civilian group fronted by local MMA fighter Dustin Lampros, working alongside internet personality Vitaly Zdorovetskiy. Together, the pair documented confrontations with men they accuse of trying to meet minors for sex.
The scenes played out in everyday places — parking lots, stores, and outside businesses — as the men confronted suspects they say were communicating sexually with what they believed were 15-year-old boys or girls.
“Yeah, so myself and longtime YouTuber Vitaly met up, and we decided to catch some online child predators here in the Delray Beach, Boynton Beach area,” Lampros told CBS12 News reporter Katie Bente. “It was a wild weekend.”
Several of the men confronted have since been arrested, while others remain under investigation, according to law enforcement.
Confrontations Livestreamed in Real Time
During the livestreams, viewers watched as suspects were questioned on camera about messages allegedly sent to minors.
In one encounter, captured as a suspect walked into a dollar store to meet someone identified as Gabriel Chevalier. Zdorovetskiy could be heard reacting as Lampros confronted the man.
“He sent a picture of a 15-year-old girl and you said, ‘wow she is so hot,’” Lampros said during the confrontation. “Are you attracted to kids? Be honest.”
Another confrontation involved Christopher Jorge Diaz, a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office lieutenant, who was later arrested by Delray Beach police. (KICK.COM/VITALY)
Another confrontation involved Christopher Jorge Diaz, a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office lieutenant, who was later arrested by Delray Beach police.
“50 years old coming to meet a 15-year-old. Why?” Lampros asked.
Diaz responded, “Because I actually thought she was 18 or 19.”
Moments later, Diaz added, “I was hoping she was actually 18.”
“So you’re taking the chance of becoming a pedophile?” Lampros replied.
At another point in the exchange, Lampros referenced Diaz’s law enforcement position.
“You’re a Miami-Dade police officer?” Lampros said. “You’re here to serve and protect — and you’re caressing a 15-year-old’s face?”
Zdorovetskiy also questioned Diaz directly, asking, “If you work for the police station, why would you do that?”
Some Arrests, Others Still Under Investigation
Police stress that not every confrontation captured on livestream results in criminal charges, and that each case depends on evidence gathered independently by investigators.
Lampros acknowledged that distinction but said the exposure itself serves a purpose.
“Obviously the exposure is good, because it makes parents aware to start thinking about the online dangers,” Lampros said. “It gives parents an idea of what to look for — knowing that there’s these online predators out there on these chat sites, these dating sites, these games.”
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‘You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover’
Lampros says what continues to surprise him is who is showing up.
“You can’t judge a book by its cover,” he said. “These predators come in all shapes and sizes and colors. We catch teachers. We catch lieutenants from Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. You name it — we’ve caught them.”
He said the group’s process centers on allowing suspects to make their own decisions after being told the decoy’s age.
“Our decoys tell them how old they are,” Lampros explained. “And it’s up to these individuals to make the right decision, be a good person, and say, ‘hold up, you’re a minor — we should not be speaking.’ Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go like that.”
Growing Presence in South Florida
According to Lampros, the group has confronted around 100 alleged predators in South Florida, including Palm Beach County.
“With 561 PC, we’ve caught around 100 people in the Palm Beach, South Florida area,” he said. “I’m blessed and grateful that I’m able to be in the position to do it, but it is very unfortunate that this is a real situation out there.”
Law enforcement agencies continue to caution parents to monitor their children’s online activity and to report suspicious behavior directly to police.
Investigations connected to last weekend’s confrontations remain ongoing.
