POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A multi-day undercover sting led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of 19 people accused of trying to meet children for sex, including a well-known local Santa Claus who authorities say showed up with condoms and cash.
The operation, called “Operation Child Protector VIII,” ran for several days and involved detectives from more than a dozen agencies across Florida and even one from California. Sixteen of the suspects communicated online with who they thought were children or guardians and then traveled to meet them.
Three others sent nude photos to undercover detectives. Five suspects were from outside Polk County, seven are married, and three are military veterans. Three of the men face human trafficking charges for allegedly offering money to have sex with a child. In total, the group is facing 85 felonies and eight misdemeanors.
Sheriff Grady Judd did not hold back during a press conference Wednesday. “It never ceases to amaze us how many suspects travel to have sex with who they believe are children, especially here in Polk County where we proactively investigate and arrest those who prey on children,” Judd said. “Speaking of believing, we even arrested Santa Claus during this undercover operation.”
That Santa Claus is 68-year-old Thomas Hicks of Lakeland. According to the arrest report, Hicks responded to an online ad and messaged an undercover detective posing as the guardian of a 13-year-old girl.
He offered $200 for one hour of sex with the child and asked the “guardian” if he planned to stay in the room.
When told no, Hicks reportedly said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle. I’ll be real gentle.” He showed up with condoms. Hicks works in marketing for Tri-County Behavioral Health, has been married for over 50 years, and plays Santa at multiple events every year. Judd said Hicks showed no remorse after his arrest, only concern for his reputation. “The person behind this happy face is a deviant,” Judd said. “He’s a pedophile.”
Another suspect, 62-year-old Lonnie Hill Sr. of Riviera Beach, drove more than two and a half hours after messaging an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old girl for five weeks. Hill told the girl he wanted to marry her and brought condoms and male enhancement pills.
When deputies tried to arrest him, he fought back so hard that he broke one deputy’s leg. He is now charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer among other felonies. Then there was 33-year-old Tyler Berrie of Lake Wales, who left work early to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He brought her candy bars and offered $200 for sex acts.
He is charged with human trafficking. Another suspect, 27-year-old Josue Negron of Lakeland, told the undercover detective he was “definitely convinced this is PCSO” but still showed up to the meeting spot with a box of condoms. One of the more unusual details involved 36-year-old Ahmed Morsi of Spring Hill, who brought marinated raw chicken to the undercover location to cook for the child he thought he was meeting.
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The operation included detectives from the Auburndale Police Department, Davenport Police Department, Lake City Police Department, Orlando Police Department, Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the San Francisco (CA) Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division.
Among those arrested, 51-year-old Trenton Berry of Lakeland had been arrested just two months earlier in a separate PCSO prostitution sting. He is married and told detectives he was trying to meet a 14-year-old boy “before going to work.”
Authorities say he made it to the undercover location within 21 minutes of starting the online conversation. Another suspect, 35-year-old Joshua Velez of Lakeland, told an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy that he wanted to “rape” the boy. After his arrest, he told detectives he actually meant the boy “looked good.” Velez also told police he receives $975 per month in public assistance.
Eighteen-year-old Saulo Jurado-Rodriguez of Winter Haven was arrested under different circumstances. A PCSO helicopter pilot spotted him and a 15-year-old girl acting suspiciously near a wood line. Deputies found that Jurado-Rodriguez had arranged to meet the girl on Instagram, taken her into a vacant home, given her alcohol, and had sex with her. He faces multiple charges including lewd battery on a minor.
Judd made a point to clarify something for any kids watching his press conference.
“I want all the children that may be watching this to understand. It’s not the real Santa Claus, okay?” he said. “I talked to the real Santa Claus today. And he’s pissed. Santa Claus said, ‘It’s people like that that give me a bad reputation.’”
All 19 suspects were booked into the Polk County Jail except for Robert Johnson of Massachusetts, who was arrested by Walpole police on a Polk County warrant.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is scheduled to address the public tomorrow afternoon following a massive undercover investigation that landed nearly 20 suspects behind bars. The briefing will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The multi-day joint operation, dubbed “Operation Child Protector VIII,” focused on identifying and apprehending individuals targeting minors.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the investigation was a collaborative effort involving several local police departments, various sheriff’s offices, and the Florida Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division.
The sting resulted in the arrests of 19 suspects. The charges are heavy: 16 individuals are accused of traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of sex.
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Furthermore, three suspects face human trafficking charges after allegedly offering to pay for sexual acts with a child.
While the full list of names has not yet been released, officials noted that the oldest suspect is 68. This individual is reportedly a well-known figure in Polk County, recognized for both his specific occupation and frequent public appearances.
Sheriff Judd will be joined by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, along with several other agency heads and regional law enforcement chiefs, to discuss the specifics of the case and the evidence gathered during the operation.
This story will be updated Wednesday.
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