FL Child Sex Sting Leads To 15 Arrests Over 4 Days

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Fifteen people who arranged to sexually exploit children were arrested during a four-day sting, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

From April 21 to 24, detectives with the Human Trafficking Section and Internet Predator Unit posed as relatives of a juvenile and claimed to be selling that minor for sex.

Detectives also posed as juveniles on social media and spoke with the suspects, who sent explicit photos of their genitalia to them, believing they were minors, and had explicit sexual conversations through text messages or video calls, the sheriff’s office said.

Of the suspects, 12 of them traveled in person with the intent of committing these crimes while others sent explicit photos and graphic messages to those they believed were juveniles online.

Three suspects agreed to purchase sex from a person they believed to be a juvenile, but didn’t come to their location. They were later arrested on warrants for charges related to the investigation.

The Lakeland Police Department and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office assisted with the arrest of two wanted suspects.

"As technology continues to enhance and more of our children use the internet as a way to advance their education, connect with friends, and communicate with loved ones, these predators are using it to torment, manipulate, and prey on the innocent," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "By arresting these fifteen criminals, our detectives continue to prove that crimes against kids will never be tolerated in Hillsborough County."