POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Thirteen men, including a former military police officer and a cook at a Disney resort, were arrested in an undercover online child predator operation.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office said undercover detectives posed as girls and boys on social media platforms and dating websites from October 2 through October 7.
During the six-day "Operation Cyber Guardian Fall Haul," 13 men communicated with undercover detectives thinking they were children between the ages 13 and 14 and showed up to a Polk County location to solicit sexual acts from the "children." PCSO said many of the suspects took condoms and lubricant but were greeted by detectives and arrested.
Those arrested included men in their 20's, 30's and 50's, and were from Kissimmee, Montverde, Lake Mary, Davenport, Winter Haven, Orlando, and Holiday.
Among them were:
- A man who said he knew he was HIV positive and solicited a boy who he thought was 14 to engage in unprotected sex.
- A former military police officer who had been previously arrested, convicted and is on federal probation for lewd/Lascivious Molestation of a child.
- A Lake Mary man who was arrested in Seminole County in November 2017 for obscene communication with a minor.
- A man who brought a new I-Phone 8+ as a gift along with sex toys, condoms, lubricant, and male enhancement pills.
- A cook at a Disney resort.
"These predators are out there, trying to sexually seduce and violate children. They lurk in chat rooms and online, ready to groom children for sex. Fortunately, because of the great work of our detectives, at least 13 of them won't be doing that any time soon. The things that these predators say to children they believe are 13 and 14 are vile and disgusting. Even seasoned, trained detectives are repulsed. The bottom line is that these predators need to be locked up and kept away from children," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.
The 13 men arrested face a total of 58 charges (57 felonies, 1 misdemeanor) which include: attempted lewd lascivious molestation, using a communication device to commit a felony, attempted uninformed HIV infected sexual intercourse, traveling to meet a minor for the purposes of sex, attempted lewd battery, and transmitting material harmful to a minor.
The 13 men arrested:
28-year-old Christian Labarca Morles of Kissimmee. On October 3, 2018, Morles engaged in a conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl he met on an online dating site. Upon initiating the conversation, he asked "how many dudes are you inviting over for sex?" and asked if the female was a virgin and if she wanted to be taught how to engage in sex. When the undercover detective reminded him she was only 13 years old, he said "I think I'm gonna regret this" and "You have to understand, stuff like this happens every 10 years maybe" referring to the opportunity to engage in sex with a minor. Morles traveled to the undercover location where he was arrested without incident. He also brought condoms to the location with the intent to have protected sex with the minor. Morles is in the country on a work visa from Venezuela. He told deputies he is a delivery driver for Amazon.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-2)
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor For the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
29-year-old Richard Victor Hicks of Montverde of Lake County. On October 4, 2018, Hicks responded to an online profile posted by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old boy. Hicks began asking the boy about his sexual experience and described the sex acts he wanted to perform on him. He said he would bring lubrication and asked the boy if he would have "To Catch a Predator" waiting on him. He also asked if he could have unprotected sex with him and said he did not have any communicable diseases. Hicks traveled to the location where he was arrested without incident. Detectives discovered a bottle of lubrication in his pocket and learned post-arrest he was HIV positive (Hicks told detectives he was HIV positive). Hicks admitted in the interview he has always fantasized about being with a 14 or 15-year-old boy, which prompted his actions. Hicks told deputies he is a truck driver for Florida Paints.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Attempted Uninformed HIV Infected Sex Intercourse (F-3)
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony (F-3)
- One Count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-2)
- One Count Traveling to Meet a Minor For the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
24-year-old Justin Brandon Kinard of Lake Mary. On October 4, 2018, Kinard responded to an online profile posted by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl. He asked if she liked "older boys" and what the age was of the "oldest boyfriend" she has ever had. After moving the conversation to text messaging, Kinard texted "I want to make sure you're not going to arrest me. LOL." Kinard described in great detail the many sexual acts he wanted to perform on the 14-year old. He further added, "if I get in trouble, I go to prison-you just get grounded." Throughout multiple phone calls and text messages, Kinard continued to reiterate his fear of going to prison and getting set up in a trap. He traveled to the location where he was arrested without incident. During a check of Kinard's criminal history, detectives learned he was arrested in Seminole County in November 2017 for obscene communication with a minor. Kinard is a student at Orange Technical College.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
- One Count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-3)
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony (F-3)
22-year-old Robert Grassano-Mazeika of Davenport. On October 4, 2018, Grassano-Mazeika engaged in conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl he met in an online chat platform. Grassano initiated the conversation by asking if they could have sex in the pool. He further sent a photograph of his genitals and described the sex he wanted to engage in. After agreeing to travel to the undercover location, Grassano lied about his age and stated he was only 17 in an attempt to convince the girl the sex would be "legal." Once at the location, he was arrested without incident. He was found to be in possession of condoms and a bottle of lubrication and disclosed he works at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel as a cook.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-3)
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony (F-3)
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
28-year-old AbrahamVafan Dukuly of Winter Haven. On October 4, 2018, Dukuly responded to an online profile, posted by an undercover detective, whom he believed was a 14-year old girl. After initiating contact, Dukuly began asking for multiple photographs. The conversation eventually moved to the cell phone where Dukuly made repeated calls and engaged in talks regarding the 14-year old's sexual experience. He described what he wanted to do sexually and said he would "teach" her new sexual experiences. He further added he would make sure she did not get pregnant. Dukuly traveled to the undercover location and was arrested without incident. Dukuly is from Liberia and is in the country on a refugee status. He is unemployed.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony (F-3)
- One Count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-2)
26-year-old Thien Nguyen of Orlando. On October 5, 2018, Nguyen engaged in conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl he met on an online chat platform. As Nguyen initiated the conversation, he told the girl he was 18yrs old. Over the next two days, they conversed back and forth via text messages and Nguyen asked what sexual experiences the girl had and if she was willing to perform oral sex on him. He sent a photograph of his genitals and drove to the undercover location where he was arrested without incident. During a check of his criminal history, detectives learned Nguyen had a prior arrest from the Military for 2 counts of Lewd/Lascivious Molestation in 2014 where he was subsequently imprisoned for approximately three years in a military prison followed by 2 years federal probation (set to expire January 2019). His prior employment was in the USAF as a Military Police Officer. He is employed as a manager at the "Rockin' Crawfish" restaurant in Orlando.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-3)
- One count Unlawful Use of a 2-way Communication Device (F-3)
- One count Transmitting Material Harmful Minor (F-3)
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
- One count Misrep Age Use Computer Solicit Lure Seduction (F-2)
- One count Violation of Probation Community Control-Adult (F-3)
24-year-old Timo Townsend of Davenport. On October 5, 2018, Townsend engaged in a conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl he met in an online chat platform. Over the course of two days, Townsend wanted to do "neck kisses" and cuddle with the young girl. During a phone call, he stated he would like to go "all the way" with her and would bring a condom. Townsend traveled to the undercover location where he was arrested without incident. Townsend admitted to detectives that he fully intended to have sex with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Detectives learned he works as a food runner at the Boathouse Restaurant, located at Disney Springs, but the restaurant is not operated by Disney.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Traveling to Meet After Using a Computer To Lure a Child (F-2)
- One count Unlawful Use of a 2-way Communication Device (F-3)
- One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation by person 18-year-old (F-3)
28-year-old Antonio Linares of Orlando. On October 5, 2018, Linares responded to an online profile (posted on a dating website) of an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl. Upon initiating conversation, Linares asked if she was home alone and if he could come to see her. He continued the conversation asking if she's ever had sex and if she would be interested in engaging in sex with him. He assured her she would not get pregnant as he would bring condoms. Linares traveled to the undercover location and was arrested (with condoms in his pocket.) Linares told detectives he is employed as a truck mechanic.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
- One count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-2)
54-year-old Joseph Mujica of Orlando. On October 5, 2018, Mujica responded to an online profile (posted on a dating website) of an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl. Over the course of two days, Mujica asked the girl if she wanted to play with his genitals and described how he wanted to "make love" to her. Mujica traveled to the undercover location where he was arrested without incident and was found to be in possession of 2 condoms. Mujica is a bus mechanic.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-3)
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
34-year-old Alexander Chinea-Ortiz of Orlando. On October 5, 2018, Chinea responded to an online profile (posted on a dating website) of an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl. Throughout the conversation, Chinea told the girl a "good way to handle stress and get rid of boredom" was to engage in sex. Chinea traveled to the undercover location where he was subsequently arrested and found to be in possession of condoms. Chinea-Ortiz is unemployed.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
- One count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-3)
39-year-old Georgios Kiragiannis of Orlando. On October 6, 2018, Kiragiannis posted an advertisement on a bulletin board site which indicated he was seeking out a younger female "friend with benefits." Over a series of emails, Kiragiannis said he would offer gifts in exchange for a girl he believed as 14 years old performing sex acts with him. He sent four pornographic images depicting various acts and asked the young girl if she would perform the acts depicted in the photos with him and offered a new iPhone 8plus to her in exchange. Kiragiannis traveled to the undercover residence and was arrested without incident. During a search, detectives found a new unwrapped iPhone 8, various sex toys, condoms, lubricant and male enhancement pills. Kiragiannis is a manager at Fed Ex.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Transmit Material harmful Minor (F-3)
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
- One count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-3)
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
34-year-old Carlos Agasta Llanos of Orlando. On October 7, 2018, Llanos responded to an online advertisement posted on a dating website by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. During the conversation, Llanos expressed wanting to get to know someone. As Llanos befriended the girl, he began sending photographs (11 total) of his genitals as well as 2 videos of himself masturbating. He traveled to the undercover location where he was arrested. Llanos is a maintenance worker.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
- Thirteen counts Transmit Material Harmful Minor (F-3)
29-year-old Frank Otero of Holiday. On October 7, 2018, Otero responded to an online advertisement posted on a dating website by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl. Throughout the conversation, Otero solicited the female for sex and oral sex. He described the sexual activities he wanted to engage in with her and agreed to travel to meet for sex. He lied about his age saying he was 19. He was arrested outside the undisclosed location and threw his cell phone in an attempt to discard evidence. He brought condoms. Otero told deputies he is a Warehouse Manager at Bay Linen.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
- One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
- One count Destroy/Tamper with Fabricate Physical Evidence (F-3)
- One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
- One count Misrep Age Use Computer Solicit Lure Seduction (F-2)
- One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-3)
- One count Resisting Officer w/o Violence (M-1)
