A statewide undercover operation arrested 58 suspected child predators over five days between June 1 and June 6. Attorney General James Uthmeier and representatives from approximately a half dozen law enforcement agencies announced the busts Thursday at the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Officials detailed how undercover agents used bogus identities on multiple social media platforms and lured the suspects to various locations where they intended to have sex with underaged victims. Uthmeier noted that those arrested engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with the undercover officers.
Investigators say the undercover officers posing as children informed the suspects that they were between the ages of 7 to 15 years old. Despite that knowledge, officials say the suspects traveled to agreed-upon locations to engage in sexual activity. Those arrested included teachers, youth athletic coaches and parents, among others, with suspects ranging in age from 65 to 16. Some came from as far away as Atlanta to meet with who they thought would be children. Agencies involved included Marion, Columbia and Polk County Sheriffs, the Attorney General's office, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Homeland Security and the FBI. Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson said the operation makes the community safer for youth and pledged to relentlessly pursue justice in the cases.