A 33-year-old man was taken into custody on Wednesday, July 15, marking the 32nd and final arrest tied to “Operation Checkmate,” a multi-day undercover initiative targeting online child exploitation.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday that Landon Cross was apprehended at his Southside apartment by members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force. According to authorities, Cross used an online messaging platform to solicit sex from an undercover detective posing as a teenage boy.
Investigators said Cross never traveled to meet the decoy in person. However, soliciting sex after the undercover officer revealed the decoy’s underage status fulfilled the legal requirements for a criminal charge. Detectives continued reviewing evidence after the formal operation wrapped up and subsequently obtained a warrant for his arrest.
The arrest concludes a sweep that netted 32 suspects facing charges for predatory online behavior. Police reported that those arrested came from a variety of backgrounds. Among the group, six individuals are in the country illegally, and three have previous arrests for similar crimes.
Although Cross was the last suspect identified under Operation Checkmate, officials stated that ongoing monitoring will continue through the department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.
Detectives within the unit remain focused on tracking online solicitations, with department representatives stating they have officers “working around the clock to stop anyone exploiting children” and adding, “we will never finish our fight.”
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