LCSO unveils results of undercover operation targeting online child exploitation
Dec 19, 2024
Leon County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) held a press conference to announce results of Operation Lifeguard. Operation Lifeguard targeted perpetrators of online child exploitation in Big Bend and Florida. 93 contacts were made with adults; 15 individuals traveled to meet minors for sexual favors resulting in felony arrests. Watch the video to see how law enforcement were able to make the arrests.The Leon County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of more than a dozen people as part of Operation Lifeguard, a significant undercover operation targeting perpetrators of online child exploitation. According to the Sheriff's office, over the course of three days, the operation resulted in 93 contacts with adults who continued conversations with undercover law enforcement officers after being informed that the individuals they were communicating with were under the age of 18. Of those 93 contacts, 15 individuals traveled to meet or solicited a minor for sexual favors. This represents nearly 16% of the contacts from the operation, resulting in felony-level arrests. Two arrestees had child pornography on their cell phones. Of the 15 individuals arrested in Operation Lifeguard: A suspect who was identified in two separate CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has been charged with possession of child pornography. A suspect who was a student advisor at a local university communicated online with an undercover officer posing as a minor and was charged with aggravated possession of child pornography. A suspect who solicited a 15-year-old child of a family friend was arrested after traveling to meet the minor. A suspect communicated with the same undercover officer during both Operation Lifeguard and Operation Spring Cleaning, which was conducted earlier this year. A suspect who drove from Panama City to meet the undercover officer posing as a minor had cocaine found in his possession. A suspect, an undocumented immigrant, solicited a child using an electronic device and is currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Law enforcement says that this type of crime isn't slowing down. These results are the culmination of the strategic efforts of LCSO and partnering agencies, including the Tallahassee Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida State Attorneys Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorneys Office, Gulf Breeze Police department, and the Bay County Sheriffs Office.