A 4-day undercover operation led to the arrest of 10 suspects who have been charged with soliciting sex from a child via the Internet and other sex related crimes, Osceola County Sheriff’s deputies said.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Blind Date,” was conducted September 10-13, as a part of the Central Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Undercover detectives posed as juveniles to talk with individuals in chat rooms and instant messaging programs on the Internet. Suspects would travel to a meeting location located in Osceola County with the purpose of having sex with a child. One suspect traveled from as far as Ocala and another suspect brought his two-year old child with him.
All the suspects were arrested in Osceola County and booked into the Osceola County Jail.
The following were arrested by deputies:
- Jonathan Diperna, Alpine Ridge Loop, Davenport
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Unlawful Use of 2 Way Communication Device - Eliot Libby, Hummingbird Court, Poinciana
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Unlawful Use of 2 Way Communication Device, Use of a Computer to Seduce/Lure a Child - Anthony Maisonave, Sherwood Oaks Circle, Ocoee
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Unlawful Use of 2 Way Communication Device - Steven Morales W. Columbia Avenue, Kissimmee
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Use of a Computer to Seduce/Lure a Child, Child Neglect - Steve Nichols Pemberly Pines Circle, St. Cloud
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Possession of Photo of Sexual Performance of a Child - Alfonso Pena-Nopal, Transient, Lake City
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Unlawful Use of 2 Way Communication Device - Eric Redmond, Pixie Lane, St. Cloud
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Unlawful Use of 2 Way Communication Device, Use of a Computer to Seduce/Lure a Child - Chad Edward Valenti, 12th Avenue, Orlando
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Unlawful Use of 2 Way Communication Device - Carlshay Dequawn Williams, Summerwind Drive, Winter Park
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Unlawful Use of 2 Way Communication Device - Christopher Scott Wilson, 33rd Street, Sarasota
Travel to Meet Child for Sex, Unlawful Use of 2 Way Communication Device, Use of a Computer to Seduce/Lure a Child, Lewd & Lascivious Conduct, 2 counts of Personal Electronic Transmission of Information to a Minor, 2 counts of Transmitting Video of a Lewd Act
