A multi-agency law enforcement effort, dubbed Operation Twelve Parsecs, has resulted in the arrests of 13 individuals accused of targeting minors online for sexual activity and transmitting child sexual abuse material.
The five-day, online sting operation was a collaborative effort involving numerous local, state, and federal agencies committed to combating child exploitation.
The Operation and Charges
The operation focused on predators engaging in sexually explicit and harmful communication with minors, distributing child sexual abuse material, and attempting to arrange in-person meetings for sexual activity.
READ: “Operation Spooky Surprise” Nets Four Men In St. Petersburg Child Predator Sting
Inspectors, agents, and analysts from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) spearheaded the initiative, partnering with a wide range of agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Agriculture, Homeland Security Investigations, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Several local law enforcement groups also participated, including the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Gulf Breeze Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department.
The 13 individuals arrested face multiple felony charges, including:
- Seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct.
- Travel to meet a minor for sexual activity.
- Use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
- Transmission of harmful material to a minor.
The arrestees range in age from 18 to 70 and hail from communities in Florida and Alabama, including Pensacola, Crestview, Eight Mile, Gulf Shores, Grand Bay, and Robertsdale.
READ: Nebraska Teacher, Boyfriend Charged With Sex Trafficking Minor Student
Arrested Individuals
The following individuals were arrested and charged as a result of Operation Twelve Parsecs:
- Nicholas Beech, 27, of Eight Mile, Ala.
- Marshall Blansett, 39, of Pensacola, Fla.
- Duran Brown, 18, of Pensacola, Fla.
- Royce Cromer, 39, of Pensacola, Fla.
- Micah Costner, 18, of Gulf Shores, Ala.
- Christopher Glover, 47, of Grand Bay, Ala. (also charged with resisting arrest without violence)
- David Girard, 70, of Robertsdale, Ala.
- Noah Kimmons, 19, of Pensacola, Fla.
- William Pierce, 52, of Pensacola, Fla. (also charged with promoting the sexual performance by a child)
- Robby Robertson, 47, of Pensacola, Fla.
- Ricardo Del Rosario, 38, of Pensacola, Fla.
- Ranger Shindle, 19, of Crestview, Fla.
- Chad Wren, 56, of Pensacola, Fla.
The State Attorney’s Office will prosecute all cases in the First Judicial Circuit.
Separate Offender Compliance Sweep
In a related effort, the FDLE and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a separate three-day enforcement operation focused on ensuring compliance among registered sexual offenders and sexual predators. During this initiative, law enforcement contacted 130 registrants within Escambia County to verify their residential addresses. This investigation is also ongoing.
FDLE officials stated their continued commitment to protecting children by proactively monitoring offender compliance and maintaining close partnerships with all levels of law enforcement to prevent exploitation and hold those who seek to harm minors accountable.
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