The Florida Attorney General, joined by federal and local law enforcement, announced results of a joint operation called “All Tricks, No Treats” targeting internet-facilitated crimes against children.FDLE, Stuart Police, FBI and Homeland Security Investigations were among the agencies at Thursday’s news conference at the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.Sheriff John Budensiek said six individuals are accused of traveling to Martin County to allegedly meet with who they thought were 14-year-olds.Body camera footage of the arrest was released.The men were caught in a three-day-long multi-agency operation that ran from October 15-17 called “All Tricks No Treats,” which involved undercover officers tracking down alleged child predators lurking online.”18 individuals took the bait,” Budensiek said. “18 individuals interacted with our detectives, half of which sent sexually explicit photos of them doing inappropriate things to our 14-year-old undercovers and tried to engage them into some kind of sexual activity.”Officials are seeking warrants for 12 others.Some of the arrestees are from Guatemala, Canada and Egypt.”I think all these cases highlight that there’s individuals literally from all around the world that are willing to travel to Martin County,” Budensiek said. “Little Martin County, in order to take advantage of our youth.”Florida State Attorney General James Uthmeier said there’s a disproportionately high number of aliens arrested in these kinds of operations.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News”These individuals they thought they could hide behind the screen and get away with it, and they were wrong,” Uthmeier said.Tom Bakkedahl, state attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit, said the six in custody could face a minimum of 42 months behind bars.”I don’t care if they are in this country legally or illegally before we ship them back to Guatemala or wherever it is that they come from, they’re going to be guests at the Florida Department of Corrections for a significant period of time,” Bakkedahl said. No word on when the next operation will take place.”My message is to the guy that’s sitting out behind that screen right now who’s thinking about getting online and thinking about luring a kid to their home or traveling to see a kid, if you do it, don’t do it in this circuit,” Bakkedahl said.Officials urge parents to talk to their kids and know who their kids are talking to.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
The Florida Attorney General, joined by federal and local law enforcement, announced results of a joint operation called “All Tricks, No Treats” targeting internet-facilitated crimes against children.
FDLE, Stuart Police, FBI and Homeland Security Investigations were among the agencies at Thursday’s news conference at the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff John Budensiek said six individuals are accused of traveling to Martin County to allegedly meet with who they thought were 14-year-olds.
Body camera footage of the arrest was released.
The men were caught in a three-day-long multi-agency operation that ran from October 15-17 called “All Tricks No Treats,” which involved undercover officers tracking down alleged child predators lurking online.
“18 individuals took the bait,” Budensiek said. “18 individuals interacted with our detectives, half of which sent sexually explicit photos of them doing inappropriate things to our 14-year-old undercovers and tried to engage them into some kind of sexual activity.”
Officials are seeking warrants for 12 others.
Some of the arrestees are from Guatemala, Canada and Egypt.
“I think all these cases highlight that there’s individuals literally from all around the world that are willing to travel to Martin County,” Budensiek said. “Little Martin County, in order to take advantage of our youth.”
Florida State Attorney General James Uthmeier said there’s a disproportionately high number of aliens arrested in these kinds of operations.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
“These individuals they thought they could hide behind the screen and get away with it, and they were wrong,” Uthmeier said.
Tom Bakkedahl, state attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit, said the six in custody could face a minimum of 42 months behind bars.
“I don’t care if they are in this country legally or illegally before we ship them back to Guatemala or wherever it is that they come from, they’re going to be guests at the Florida Department of Corrections for a significant period of time,” Bakkedahl said.
No word on when the next operation will take place.
“My message is to the guy that’s sitting out behind that screen right now who’s thinking about getting online and thinking about luring a kid to their home or traveling to see a kid, if you do it, don’t do it in this circuit,” Bakkedahl said.
Officials urge parents to talk to their kids and know who their kids are talking to.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
