4 Men Accused Of Traveling To Meet A Minor They Met Online In FL, Cops Say

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Four men were arrested after traveling to meet a minor for sex, St. Petersburg police said in a news release.

The arrests were part of a sting called Operation Spooky Surprise, in which detectives went into online chat rooms and websites used for human trafficking and connecting with minors.

The men arrested chatted with the detectives, thinking they were boys or girls, ages 14 and 15, police said.

The suspects agreed to meet for sex and drove to the designated location, where they were arrested, investigators said.

The men arrested in the sting and their charges are:

• Thomas Ray Hill, 55, human trafficking, traveling to meet a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Mathias Padilla, 44, traveling to meet a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and seduction of a child using the internet or electronic device
• Tahquil Battle, 28, traveling to meet a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device
• Brandon Farrow, 32, traveling to meet a minor, transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device