CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Sixteen people were arrested in an undercover operation to catch cyber predators, involving a collaboration between the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit and multiple law enforcement agencies.
The tactical Crimes Against Children (CAC) initiative, called Operation Boogeyman, targeted dangerous cyber predators attempting to engage in sexual activity with minors.
The operation was conducted with the support of the Citrus County School Board Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, Tavares Police Department, and Pinellas Park Police Department.
During the initiative, law enforcement personnel posed as underage children on various websites and social media platforms. The suspects initiated contact, sending sexually explicit messages and images despite believing the child to be underage.
Authorities said several individuals even traveled with the intention of meeting the child in person to engage in illegal sexual activity.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office reported that 16 individuals were arrested at the conclusion of Operation Boogeyman, and among them were previously convicted sex offenders who were allegedly violating conditions of their probation or parole.
"These predators knew they were targeting children and still chose to pursue
them. Operation Boogeyman' exposed how real and dangerous these threats are in
the digital world," said Sheriff David Vincent. "I couldn't be prouder of the
men and women in our High Tech Crimes Unit and the partner agencies who worked
tirelessly to bring these predators to justice."
