Teachers and youth coaches were among those arrested.
A statewide undercover operation arrested 58 suspected child predators over five days between June 1 to June 6.
Attorney General James Uthmeier along with representatives from about a half dozen law enforcement agencies announced the busts Thursday at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, one of the agencies involved in the crackdown. Officials detailed how undercover agents used bogus identities on multiple social media platforms and lured the suspects to various locations where they intended to have sex with underaged victims.
Uthmeier said those arrested engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with the undercover officers. Investigators say the undercover officers posing as children informed the suspects that they were between the ages of 7 to 15 years old. Despite that knowledge, officials say the suspects traveled to agreed-upon locations to engage in sexual activity.
Some of those arrested included teachers, youth athletic coaches and parents, among others. The suspects ranged in age from 65 to 16. Some of the suspects came from as far away as Atlanta to meet with who they thought would be children they were going to have sex with.
Some of the agencies involved include Marion, Columbia and Polk County Sheriff’s, the Attorney General’s office, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Homeland Security, the FBI and others.
“This operation reflects exactly the kind of coordinated, multi-agency effort that makes Florida a difficult place for predators to operate,” said Florida Highway Patrol Col. Gary Howze. “Those seeking to victimize children will face the full weight of the law and the full force of every agency committed to protecting them.”
While the law enforcement officials called the operation a success, they acknowledged the arrests were disturbing.
“The fact that this many predators are actively trying to prey on the vulnerable children in our community is deeply disturbing,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “Taking these offenders off the streets makes our community safer for our youth. We will relentlessly pursue justice in these cases.”
