Fifty-eight people who thought they were meeting children for sex walked straight into a massive police trap this month. The suspects, who shockingly included local parents and school teachers, were arrested during a five-day undercover sting operation in Marion County.
The operation ran from June 1 through June 6, 2026, making it the most successful Internet Crimes Against Children bust in the county’s history.
Officers went undercover in online chatrooms to find predators actively looking to exploit kids. During the chats, investigators made it very clear that they were children between the ages of seven and 15. Despite knowing the ages, the defendants kept up sexually explicit conversations and eventually made plans to meet the “children” in person. When they showed up at the agreed-upon locations, law enforcement was waiting to put them in handcuffs.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the massive wave of arrests, pointing out that this multi-agency effort is part of a much larger crackdown.
“With nearly 1,700 predators arrested since I took office, we are just getting started,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “58 more child predators are behind bars and away from our kids because Florida has the best sheriffs in the nation who continue to put themselves in harm’s way to keep our kids safe.”
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office spearheaded the operation, backed by a massive coalition of state and federal agencies. That team included the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Taskforce, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Sheriff’s Association, and the sheriff’s offices in Polk and Columbia counties.
“Once again, the amazing teamwork and determination among all of these agencies involved are sending a clear message to child sex predators that Florida has no tolerance for this and we will continue to do everything we can to protect these children,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods.
State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit noted how unsettling it is to see so many people hunting local youth.
“The fact that this many predators are actively trying to prey on the vulnerable children in our community is deeply disturbing,” Gladson said. “My office is proud to partner with Sheriff Woods and Attorney General Uthmeier to continue to conduct these covert operations to apprehend these predators before they cause real harm. Taking these offenders off the streets makes our community safer for our youth. We will relentlessly pursue justice in these cases.”
State leaders echoed that promise. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass praised the unwavering dedication of the officers involved, stating, “Our mission is to make Florida the safest place for families.”
Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze also highlighted the heavy resources poured into the trap, including FHP aviation units. “This operation reflects exactly the kind of coordinated, multi-agency effort that makes Florida a difficult place for predators to operate,” Howze said. “Those seeking to victimize children will face the full weight of the law and the full force of every agency committed to protecting them.”
The investigation is still active, and police say they expect to make even more arrests in the coming weeks. Based on the official release, the following individuals were arrested and charged during the operation:
- Jesus Santiago Colon, 30: Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device.
- Adriana Ilao Orpilla, 22: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device.
- Nickolas Hester, 28: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device.
- Dylan Frantz, 38: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device; Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor; Possession of Marijuana (Under 20 grams).
- David Robinson, 64: Probation Violation (x2); Use of a Computer to Solicit Parent/Guardian Consent; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Jose Ortiz Garcia, 55: Probation Violation; Use of a Computer to Solicit Parent/Guardian Consent; Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Solicit Parent/Guardian Consent.
- William Meister, 36: Cocaine Possession; Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device.
- Matthew Szilagyi, 29: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child.
- Collin Beegle, 27: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Rafael Romero Chavez, 33: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child.
- David Smith, 22: Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child (x2); Kidnapping (x2); Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Micky Barber, 29: Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child (x2); Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony; Kidnapping (x2); Transmit Info Harmful to Minors.
- Wyatt Bernstein, 27: Use of a Computer to Solicit Parent/Guardian Consent; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Michael Vitoff: Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity.
- Orrin Armstead, 37: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Jorge Alva Collazos, 44: Engage in Human Trafficking Labor or Service Less than 18 Years Old; Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Christopher Coulter, 31: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Obstruction without Violence.
- Brian McVicker, 65: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Matthew White, 40: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony; Transmit Info Harmful to Minors.
- Timothy Lawson, 56: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Chad Bouwens, 32: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony; Use or Display of a Weapon During a Felony.
- Shannon Scarberry, 43: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony; Obstruction without Violence.
- Andrew Ruch, 32: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Travian Sesler, 28: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Cody Luft, 32: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony.
- Alexis Lara Guardado, 25: Travel to Meet After Use of a Computer to Lure a Minor; Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child; Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate Felony; Transmit Harmful Info to Minors.
- Joshua Head, 36: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Transmit info harmful to minors; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Jeremiah Johnson, 26: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Transmit info harmful to minors; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child.
- Philip Stutsman, 48: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Brian Verka: Attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
- Waseem Dilshad, 37: Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child misrepresent age; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- John Leininger, 60: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Engage in human trafficking labor or service child less than 18 YOA.
- Kadyn Russell, 21: Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Transmit info harmful to minors; Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child.
- Timothy Templeton, 48: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Dalton Tyler, 28: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Contributing to the delinquency of a minor; Marijuana possession (not more than 20 grams).
- Robert Fam, 30: Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child.
- Jesus Padilla, 39: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Travel to meet use of computer solicit guardian; Engage in human trafficking labor or service child less than 18 YOA; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Payton Sims, 23: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child.
- Ashay Shakes, 31: Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Israel Rosario, 35: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child.
- Eric Morin, 34: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Transmit info harmful to minors; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Use of computer to solicit parent guardian consent (x4); Travel to meet use of computer solicit guardian.
- Sebastian Diaz Ortiz, 28: Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Jose Navarro, 44: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Obstruction without violence.
- Roosevelt Beasley, 51: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child misrepresent age; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child.
- John Goodman, 53: Use of computer to solicit parent guardian consent; Travel to meet use of computer solicit guardian; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Obstruction of evidence.
- Robert Mixon, 30: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Patrick Haan, 26: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Transmit info harmful to minors.
- Kingston McAllister, 16: Use of computer to solicit parent guardian consent; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Carl Allsop, 46: Engage in human trafficking labor or service child less than 18 YOA; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child.
- Jordan Richmond, 47: Use of computer to solicit parent guardian consent; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony.
- Savian Eiland, 20: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child.
- Kameron Works, 31: Use of computer to seduce solicit lure child; Travel to meet after use of computer to lure child; Use of two way communication device to facilitate felony; Moving traffic violation.
READ: “Make The FBI Get A Warrant”: Civil Liberties Expert Speaks Out As House Spy Powers Bill Fails
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