Multiple men arrested during child sex predator sting in Marion County, deputies say
A week-long undercover sting operation in Marion County led to the arrest of 40 men accused of attempting to meet children for sex, involving multiple agencies, including the state attorney and attorney general.
The child sex predator sting was conducted last week, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Among those arrested were a retired Army sergeant, a University of Florida student on a visa, and men from countries such as Mexico, Jamaica, India, and El Salvador.
Investigators said these men allegedly showed up with illegal drugs and contraceptives, thinking they were meeting kids as young as 13, but instead, they were met with undercover officers.
Sheriff Billy Woods didn’t hold back and is vowing to hunt down anyone who targets a child.
“Marion County and the 5th Judicial circuit, and truthfully in the entire state of Florida as I’m sure the general is going to make abundantly clear. We do not tolerate this crime,” Woods said.
Florida Police Arrest 12 Alleged Online Predators
News2 March 2021
Written by
Sarah Coble
News Writer
Law enforcement officers in Florida’s Marion County have arrested a dozen men in a sting operation to catch sexual predators who use the internet to target children.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the 12 defendants were caught chatting online with users who they believed to be children. In reality, the suspects were talking with undercover detectives.
The men arrested in the operation are 18-year-old Allen Vasquez of Jacksonville, Donald Dziadyk, Brayant McCullough, 21-year-old Robin Strickland of Gainesville, Ryan Boyette, 51-year-old Lonny Blankenship of Lake City, Robert Salch, 31-year-old Robert Hilse, Jason Sciongay, 31-year-old Dunte Campbell of Jacksonville, Koree Lee, and Jorge Cruz Ordonez.
Four of the men are accused of sending sexually explicit images during the online conversations. Of the 12, eight men allegedly made arrangements to meet and have sex with the child who they believed they were talking to online.
All eight of the men traveled to a location in Marion County, allegedly believing that they were about to engage in sex with a minor. However, upon arriving at the agreed upon meeting point, each suspect was greeted by law enforcement officers and placed under arrest.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods asked parents to make it their business to know what their children get up to when they are online.
“My message to parents, I want to make something clear: You need to be fully aware of where your children are talking online. Be aware of their social media,” said Woods, “because all of these individuals, for some of them, this might be their first offense, but I promise you it’s not their first time.”
He also issued a warning to those who would use the internet as a tool to sexually exploit children.
“To the would-be, vile individuals that are doing this and are seeking children in Marion County, be assured that I will find you, I will put handcuffs on you, and I will put you in my jail,” said Woods.
“My deputies will spend hours upon hours hunting you down. Now, my job is bringing people to justice, but if it was my choice, I’d bury you under the jail, if I could. Don’t come to Marion County.”
‘Seek and Ye Shall Find Out’: Record-breaking child predator sting nabs 48 in Florida
by Sophie PendrillThu, July 31, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Updated Thu, July 31, 2025 at 6:47 AM
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A record-breaking undercover child predator operation dubbed Seek and Ye Shall Find Out has resulted in the arrest of 48 people, including six foreign nationals with ICE detainers in Florida. (MCSO)
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OCALA, Fla. (CBS12) — A record-breaking undercover child predator operation dubbed Seek and Ye Shall Find Out has resulted in the arrest of 48 people, including six foreign nationals with ICE detainers in Florida.
“As a father, I am outraged by the heinous crimes we spoke about today. As Attorney General, I’m proud of the brave officers behind this record-breaking operation,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier.
This six-day operation, coordinated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), resulted in the highest number of arrests for this annual initiative.
“Parents, we will never arrest every single one of them. You have to know what your child is doing online. And children have to know what dangers are lurking online. As a Sheriff and as a father, I understand the anger and disgust a parent has towards these types of individuals. I assure you that we will continue to attack this plague head-on,” said Sheriff Woods.
The report states that during the sting, undercover officers interacted with these people who believed they were communicating with children aged between 13 and 15.
Many of them made explicit arrangements to meet at specific locations, where law enforcement was waiting to arrest them, per MCSO.
See also: Cuban nationals nabbed in semi-truck part theft ring spanning Florida and Texas
The operation involved collaboration among several law enforcement agencies, including the Ocala Police Department, the Lake City Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and others.
A total of 40 men were apprehended on charges that included traveling to meet a minor for illegal sexual conduct and human trafficking.
Authorities also seized guns, drugs, cash, and vehicles during the operation, and more arrests are expected as detectives continue to investigate.
The report states that the operation revealed that many predators were using various online platforms, including Snapchat, to target minors.
Uthmeier stated that the Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Snapchat, accusing the platform of violating Florida laws designed to protect children.
Among those arrested, at least six individuals are on ICE detainers, having traveled from locations like Jamaica, El Salvador, Dubai, and India with the intent to exploit children, per officials.
The accused faces multiple charges, including:
- Traveling to Meet a Minor for Illegal Sexual Conduct: 34
- Human Trafficking: 5
- Using a Computer to Solicit a Child for Sexual Conduct: 48
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony: 40
- Transmitting Material Harmful to a Minor: 14
- Traveling to Meet a Minor for Illegal Sexual Conduct Facilitated by a Guardian: 1
- Using a Computer to Solicit a Guardian for Illegal Sexual Conduct with a Child: 1
- Fleeing to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer: 1
- Resisting Arrest without Violence: 2
- Drug Charges: 4
- Drug Paraphernalia: 1
- Reckless Driving: 1
- Violation of Probation: 1
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Florida ‘Operation Seek and Yee Shall Find Out’: 48 arrested in child sex predator sting, officials say
Published July 30, 2025 3:25pm EDT
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48 arrested in Florida child sex predator sting, officials say
Multiple officials announced the results of “Operation Seek and Yee Shall Find Out,” on Wednesday in Marion County, Florida.
The Brief
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- Multiple officials announced the results of “Operation Seek and Yee Shall Find Out,” on Wednesday in Marion County, Florida.
- The six-day undercover child sex predator sting resulted in the arrests of 48 men.
- Officials said those arrested used various social media apps to meet up with children, bringing drugs and alcohol along with them.
MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Forty-eight men were recently arrested in a Florida undercover child sex predator sting called “Operation Seek and Yee Shall Find Out,” officials say.
6-day Marion County undercover operation
What we know:
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods hosted a news conference on Wednesday afternoon to announce the results of the operation. Woods was joined by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, State Attorney Bill Gladson and representatives from Sen. Ashley Moody’s office.
“Seek and Yee Shall Find Out” was a six-day undercover operation in Marion County, Florida. Officials said 48 men were arrested during the child sex predator sting.
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Authorities said the 48 men arrested used various social media platforms, including Snapchat and dating apps, to meet children in Marion County ranging in age from 13-15. The alleged predators brought cocaine, guns, condoms, alcohol, cash, marijuana and other drugs, investigators said.
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40 men arrested in Florida child sex predator sting, officials say
Multiple law enforcement officials gathered to host a press conference to announce the results of an undercover operation on Wednesday afternoon in Marion County. Forty people were arrested in the child sex predator sting called “Operation Seek and Yee Shall Find Out.”
Those arrested came from local locations, such as Gainesville and Orlando, as well as six foreign nationals from outside the country in places such as Mexico, El Salvador, India, Dubai and Jamaica. Officials even said one of the people arrested was a student from the University of Florida (UF) on a visa.
The men were arrested on numerous charges, including traveling to meet a minor for illegal sexual conduct, human trafficking, using a computer to solicit a child, unlawful use of a two-way communications device and transmitting material harmful to a minor.
The arrests were a collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, the Lake City Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department.
Forty-eight men were arrested during the undercover child sex predator sting. (Credit: Marion County Sheriff’s Office)
‘Heinous crimes’
What they’re saying:
Woods delivered a clear message to parents during the press conference.
“You need to pay attention to your children,” he said. “These crimes are heinous, and we do not tolerate these crimes. … You don’t want these operations to be successful, because you don’t want these crimes to occur.”
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“My office routinely conducts these types of operations,” Woods said. “With each operation, we catch more and more. The number of offenders only goes up. Parents, we will never arrest every single one of them. You have to know what your child is doing online. And children have to know what dangers are lurking online. As a sheriff and as a father, I understand the anger and disgust a parent has towards these types of individuals. I assure you that we will continue to attack this plague head-on.”
Uthmeier said he wants the alleged predators arrested to go away for “as long as possible,” before then, in some cases, being deported. He called technology and social media platforms the “tools of the devil.”
“There is no defense,” he said. “There is no justification, there is no excuse. It cannot happen, and it will not happen in Florida.”
