Undercover deputies in Lake County have arrested 22 men in an underage sex sting, including three employees at Walt Disney World, and one man who brought a Happy Meal with him to meet what he thought was a girl between 12 and 14 years old.
The list of suspects arrested in what Sheriff Gary Borders called “Operation Be Mine” — just in time for Valentine’s Day — also included a man who worked at a miniature golf course, a paramedic, and a member of the National Guard.
A Walt Disney World spokesperson told News 13 the three employees arrested in the sting have been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
“I’ve got a condom in my back pocket,” one man was heard saying on surveillance video from the scene. He was one of the nearly two dozen men caught by surprise as they arrived at a home expecting to meet an underage girl for sex, only to find deputies in uniform waiting for them.
Another man brought a bag filled with candy bars, beer and male sexual enhancement pills.
Sheriff Borders said the men were prowling Facebook and other websites that are popular among underage children.
“We encourage them to know where they are going online, what sites they are visiting,” said Borders. “We want them to have a relationship where the child feels comfortable enough to tell them if someone is contacting them online. And then, of course, we want them to contact us.”
The investigation has also led to additional charges for one Lake County man: David Griffith of Minneola, whom detectives said was trying to meet what turned out to be a real 7-year-old for sex in another county.
The 22 men face up to five years in prison each if convicted.
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22 arrested in Operation Be Mine
Source: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Arrest No. 1
Name: Soto-Rossi, Marcos
Case Number: 140014917
Arrestee Age: 30
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: Condom
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery, Soliciting a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Tiger Direct in Altamonte Springs, FL
Vehicle Seized: 2005 Toyota Corolla
Arrest No. 2
Name: Hughes, Joey
Case Number: 140014918
Arrestee Age: 31
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Lakeland, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Premier Transportation–Truck driver
Arrest No. 3
Name: Baker, Brian
Case Number: 140014919
Arrestee Age: 25
Child Age: 13
Location Traveled From: Maitland, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Terry Plumbing Asheboro, NC
Arrest No. 4
Name: Griffith, David
Case Number: 140014920
Arrestee Age: 47
Child Age: 13
Location Traveled From: Minneola, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Additional’ Charges: Transmission Harmful Materials to a Minor (two counts), Procuring a minor for prostitution
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: CTDI
Arrest No. 5
Name: Edge, Tyler
Case Number: 140014921
Arrestee Age: 23
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Kissimmee, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: Knife and condom
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Abuelos (Restaurant)
Arrest No. 6
Name: Roach, Ryan
Case Number: 140014922
Arrestee Age: 25
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Sorrento, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: IGA Grocery Sorrento, FL
Vehicle Seized: 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
Arrest No. 7
Name: Vorobets, Alexander
Case Number: 140014923
Arrestee Age: 27
Child Age: 13
Location Traveled From: Orlando, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: Happy meal from McDonalds, condoms
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Rachel’s Strip Club Orlando, FL
Arrest No. 8
Name: Samaroo, Paul
Case Number: 140014924
Arrestee Age: 31
Child Age: 13
Location Traveled From: Ocoee, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: Condoms
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Sysco Orlando, FL
Arrest No. 9
Name: Kingsolver, Robert
Case Number: 140014925
Arrestee Age: 49
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Walt Disney World
Arrest No. 10
Name: Dupler, Troy Allen
Case Number: 140014926
Arrestee Age: 43
Child Age: 13
Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Hair Salon Owner
Arrest No. 11
Name: Penny, David REGISTERED SEXUAL OFFENDER IN LAKE COUNTY
Case Number: 140014927
Arrestee Age: 32
Child Age: 13
Location Traveled From: N/A
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Failure to Report Email Account Information
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Precision Landscape Management Clermont, FL
Arrest No. 12
Name: Holgerson, Patrick
Case Number: 140014928
Arrestee Age: 32
Child Age: 13
Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Solicit Parent/Guardian, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Solicit Guardian for Consent to Commit
Additional Charges: Sex Acts with Child through Assignation, Fail to Disclose HIV Status to Sexual Partner
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Walt Disney World
Arrest No. 13
Name: Torres, Joel
Case Number: 140014929
Arrestee Age: 32
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Apopka, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: Condoms
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Walt Disney World
Arrest No. 14
Name: Will, Aaron
Case Number: 140014931
Arrestee Age: 23
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Largo, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: National Guard and Holiday Inn
Arrest No. 15
Name: Jobe, Nasib
Case Number: 140014932
Arrestee Age: 39
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Ocala, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: 4 candy bars, Beer, male enhancement pill and other items
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery,
Charges Cont’d: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Jobe Trucking Ocala, FL
Vehicle Seized: 2005 Lexus IS 300
Arrest No. 16
Name: Alavarez, Angel Eduardo
Case Number: 140014933
Arrestee Age: 29
Child Age: 16
Location Traveled From: Clermont, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: 3 condoms, cigarettes, marijuana , two necklaces
Charges: Solicit Child, Traveling to meet a Minor, Procuring person under 18 for prostitution, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, contributing to delinquency of a minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: South Lake Computers Clermont, FL
Arrest No. 17
Name: Ovanounou, Ariel
Case Number: 140014934
Arrestee Age: 20
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Orlando, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: 3 condoms
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: American Air Quality–AC Repair
Arrest No. 18
Name: Shofique, Belal
Case Number: 140014935
Arrestee Age: 33
Child Age: 16
Location Traveled From: Orlando
Items Arrestee Brought: Latex gloves
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to meet a Minor, Procuring a Person Under
Additional Charges: the Age of 18 for Prostitution
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Orange County Fire Rescue –Paramedic
Arrest No. 19
Name: Dove, Mathew
Case Number: 140014936
Arrestee Age: 20
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Groveland, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: 2 condoms
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Wal-Mart
Arrest No. 20
Name: Parker, David Earl
Case Number: 140014938
Arrestee Age: 43
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Brycesville, FL (Nassau County)
Items Arrestee Brought: Three condoms
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Napco (1-800 Flowers Vendor)
Arrest No. 21
Name: Jimenez, Adam Michael
Case Number: 140014939
Arrestee Age: 25
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Kissimmee, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: N/A
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts (two counts), Traveling to meet a Minor
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Put-Put Golf
Arrest No. 22
Name: Sullivan, Nathan Taylor
Case Number: 140014940
Arrestee Age: 22
Child Age: 14
Location Traveled From: Webster, FL
Items Arrestee Brought: Condoms
Charges: Soliciting a Child for Sexual Acts, Traveling to meet a Minor, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Arrestee’s Reported Employer: Owns a towing business
HIV positive and going to meet a child…smfh.
Too many of them work for Walt Disney World.. SMH A good fi dem
What baffles me is what little time they get! Dem if jus get lockup and the key dash weh!!! Death would b too easy for them.
The sad thing is… These kids have to deal with so many issues that may / may not affect their futures drastically!!!!
The fact that most of them work for Disney makes sense as Disney is a place for kids… Hence the reason why they seek out employment there…not a direct reflection of Disney!
The penalty for this type of crime should b a lot more HARSH!!!
Fi not it for 12:05 comment