POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a man Thursday who was trying to set up a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl on a dating app. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old James Cherubin, is from Haiti and was in the United States illegally.
The PCSO Cyber Crimes Unit had posted an advertisement on the dating service, posing as a father offering to prostitute his daughter in exchange for money. An undercover detective was contacted by phone about the ad on Thursday. The suspect was told the girl was only 14 years old and still agreed to pay her father $100 for sex.
At around 1:09 p.m., Cherubin arrived at the arranged meeting spot and was arrested right away. He lives in Winter Haven and had been in the U.S. on a work visa that expired. He has been unemployed for the past six months.
Sheriff Grady Judd said, “This is the second day in a row that we have captured someone who was trying to victimize a child for his own sick pleasure. These demented perverts are unfortunately out there, and my detectives, who are the very best at what they do, are working to pluck them out of society and put them in jail where they belong.”
Cherubin was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and booked on charges including Human Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Activity (Victim less than 18), Use a Computer to Solicit a Parent/Guardian, Traveling to Meet After Using a Computer to Solicit a Parent for Sex with a Minor, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device, and Attempted Lewd Battery.
Because of his illegal immigration status, all charges will be enhanced one degree under state law. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified, and an ICE hold has been placed on him.
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