Child Porn sting Nets 16 Arrests in Central Florida
Over a dozen people have been arrested and for child pornography in central Florida from a sting operation put on by the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement).
FDL office Danny Banks who is the special agent in charge of the FDLE office in Orlando confirmed the investigation resulted in 12 search warrants, 16 arrests and currently one suspect remains at large.
“For the past month, cyber task force agents have increased vigilance and investigative activities, watching for criminals who target our community’s children for pornography and online sexual activity,” he said.
The charges ranged from possession and distribution of child pornography as well as probation violations and drug offenses.
Operation Cyber Claws
“Operation Cyber Claws,” the name of the child sex sting operation included 15 jurisdictions and several local law enforcement agencies, including the sheriff’s departments from Orange, Brevard, Osceola and Seminole counties. Banks said investigators checked on 39 previously-convicted offenders, some of whom were not obeying court-ordered restrictions.
According to special agent Banks the operation “was intended to make two statements.”
“One, to the families and children in Central Florida, our message is: Happy holidays, your streets are a little bit safer today,” he said. “The second message is to the people who prey on the innocence of children in our community. We are watching, we are aggressively looking and we are coming for you next.”
Among those arrested were employees of Universal Orlando and Seminole State College, Banks said.
