Detectives assigned to the Lake County sheriff’s Cyber Crimes Unit recently concluded a week-long operation targeting subjects online attempting to meet children for sexual activity. The operation, dubbed Treasure Florida’s Kids, resulted in 10 arrests for various sex-related crimes.
Detectives conducted the operation from their offices, during which time they posed online as either a 13- or 14-year-old child, or the caregiver of the child. Most of the subjects traveled to the Golden Triangle area with the intent to have sex with whom they thought to be the child and were taken into custody without incident upon their arrival. Some of the items brought by the arrestees include prophylactics, beer, soda, lip gloss, pillows, a blanket, and $77 cash which was to be used as payment for sex. Three vehicles were seized. Two subjects did not travel, but were arrested at their residence after transmitting explicit pictures to whom they believed to be a 13-year-old.
Other agencies that participated in this operation include the following: Altamonte Springs, Clermont, Eustis, Kissimmee, and Okeechobee Police Departments, as well as the Citrus, Osceola, Polk, and Seminole County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
