BREAKING: Sixteen individuals have been arrested in a major undercover operation aimed at capturing child predators in Citrus County, Florida. The operation, dubbed Operation Boogeyman, was executed by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit along with multiple law enforcement agencies.
This urgent initiative was launched to target dangerous cyber predators attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors. Authorities confirmed that the operation took place on October 13, 2023, with a significant collaborative effort involving the U.S. Secret Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, Tavares Police Department, and Pinellas Park Police Department.
Undercover officers posed as underage children on various websites and social media platforms, where they were met with sexually explicit messages and images from suspects. Alarmingly, several individuals traveled to meet what they believed to be minors, prepared to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Sheriff David Vincent expressed his pride in the operation, stating,
“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.”
Among those arrested were previously convicted sex offenders who were allegedly violating the terms of their probation or parole. This highlights the critical need for ongoing vigilance and proactive measures to protect children from these threats.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office is urging parents to remain vigilant and educate their children about the dangers of online interactions. Law enforcement officials are committed to continuing their efforts to keep communities safe from cyber threats.
As the investigation unfolds, further updates are expected. Authorities encourage anyone with information related to these cases to come forward and assist in ensuring justice for victims.
Stay tuned for more details on this developing story and how local authorities are addressing the persistent threat of child predators online.
