‘Bad Santa’ and 18 more nabbed in Florida child predator sting, 85 felonies filed | #childpredator | #kidsaftey | #childsaftey

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A recent undercover operation in Florida has resulted in the arrest of 19 people, including a suspect dubbed “Bad Santa,” for attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors.

Officials said that the Polk County Sheriff’s Office led the multi-day undercover operation called “Operation Child Protector VIII.” The operation aimed to target individuals attempting to engage in unlawful sexual activities with minors.

During the investigation, 19 suspects were arrested for a range of felonies, including one man who is known for dressing up as Santa Claus and was well regarded in the community working for a mental health and drug addiction group, who is now dubbed “Bad Santa,” who allegedly offered to pay a father $200 for sex with what he believed to be the man’s 13-year-old daughter.

According to the report, of the arrested suspects, 16 communicated with undercover detectives posing as children or their guardians online, resulting in charges of traveling to meet a minor for sexual activities. Three suspects also sent explicit images to the detectives, while five of those arrested were from outside Polk County.

Notably, officials said seven suspects were married, and three were military veterans. Additionally, three suspects faced charges for human trafficking for attempting to pay for sex with a child.

In total, the suspects are facing 85 felony charges and 8 misdemeanor charges.

See also: 9 arrested, $1.13M cash, 40 kgs of cocaine seized in Puerto Rico to Florida mail pipeline

Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his disbelief at the number of individuals willing to travel for such illicit purposes, stating, “It never ceases to amaze us how many suspects travel to have sex with who they believe are children, especially here in Polk County, where we proactively investigate and arrest those who prey on children. Speaking of believing, we even arrested Santa Claus during this undercover operation.”

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia also voiced his gratitude, saying, “The child predators arrested during this operation are exactly where they belong, locked up and behind bars. I want to thank Sheriff Grady Judd for spearheading this operation and every law enforcement officer who worked to bring these vile criminals to justice. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure safety in our communities and to protect Floridians.”

Here’s a list of the suspects:

Tyler Berrie, 33 (Lake Wales, FL)

• Allegedly offered to pay $200 to meet a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, engaging in explicit conversations online.
• Charges: Human trafficking, traveling to meet a minor, seduction of a child via computer, and attempted lewd battery.

Trenton Berry, 51 (Lakeland, FL)

• Allegedly initiated conversations with a detective posing as a 14-year-old boy, stating he wanted to meet before heading to work.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, seduction of a child via computer, possession of methamphetamine, and more.

Noah Berumen, 33 (Orlando, FL)

• Allegedly drove to meet an undercover detective after communicating explicitly with someone he thought was a 14-year-old boy.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, attempted lewd battery, and resisting arrest.

Gheorghe Bradley, 39 (Lakeland, FL)

• Allegedly sent nude photos and explicit messages to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, seduction of a child via computer, and attempted lewd battery.

Alan Brown Jr., 21 (Lakeland, FL)

• Engaged with a detective posing as a 13-year-old girl; previously identified in a tip regarding child pornography.
• Charges: Details pending related to solicitation and child pornography.

Joshua Sanches Bullard, 35 (Haines City, FL)

• Allegedly attempted to meet an undercover detective, believing he was conversing with a minor. He told detectives he had been married to his husband for four years.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, seduction of a child via computer, and attempted lewd battery.

Hongkun Cheng, 24 (Tampa, FL)

• Allegedly sent explicit messages to an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old girl; requested nude photos.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor.

Clinton Dees, 38 (Winter Haven, FL)

• Arrested for DUI; identified through an NCMEC tip involving child sexual abuse material.
• Charges: 7 counts of possession of child pornography.

David Esquivel, 57 (Haines City, FL)

• Allegedly sent explicit messages to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy; brought a condom to the meeting.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor, Resisting arrest.

Noah Geraci, 27 (Lakeland, FL)

• Allegedly sent explicit messages and nude photos to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of computer to seduce a child, Use of two-way communication device to commit a felony, Transmission of material harmful to a minor, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor

Derek Heard, 34 (Lakeland, FL)

• Allegedly sent explicit messages to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy; mentioned bringing condoms.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor.

Thomas Hicks, 68 (Lakeland, FL) – A.K.A Bad Santa

• Allegedly offered $200 to have sex with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old girl’s guardian; stated he visits prostitution sites frequently.
• Charges: Human trafficking, traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Lonnie Hill Sr., 62 (Riviera Beach, FL)

• Allegedly sent messages to an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old, expressed desire to marry her, traveled over 2.5 hours for a meetup with condoms and enhancement pills, and resisted arrest, injuring a deputy.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of computer to seduce a child, Use of two-way communication device to commit a felony, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor, Aggravated battery on LEO, Resisting arrest with violence, Resisting arrest without violence.

Robert Johnson, 62 (Walpole, MA)

• Allegedly sent messages and nude photos to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old, explicitly detailing sexual acts.
• Charges: Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Transmission of material harmful to a minor.

Saulo Jurado-Rodriguez, 18 (Winter Haven, FL)

• Allegedly arranged a meetup with a 15-year-old via Instagram, provided alcohol, and engaged in sexual activity in a vacant home.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child after misrepresenting age, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Lewd/lascivious battery on a minor, Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Giving alcohol to a minor.

Ahmed Morsi, 36 (Spring Hill, FL)

• Allegedly sent messages to an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old, claimed to be a dentist, and described sexual acts in detail.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor.

Josue Negron, 27 (Lakeland, FL)

• Allegedly sent explicit messages to an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old and traveled to the meetup location with condoms.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor.

George Thomas Jr., 57 (Lake Wales, FL)

• Allegedly sent messages to an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old girl’s guardian, offering $100 for sexual activity.
• Charges: Human trafficking, Traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor.

Joshua Velez, 35 (Lakeland, FL)

• Allegedly sent messages to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy, expressed intent to “rape” but claimed he meant the boy looked good.
• Charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Use of a computer to seduce a child, Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, Attempted lewd/lascivious battery on a minor.

Florida officials said that the operation involved collaboration among various law enforcement agencies. Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with officers from the Auburndale Police Department, Davenport Police Department, and several other local and state agencies, including the Florida Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division.