Sting Operation Yields 41 Online Child Predators, Including 1 Female, from Florida and San Francisco Bay Areas

A sting operation for online child predators carried by police operatives in the lead up to this weekend's recently concluded Father's Day celebration had yielded 41 arrests, including 1 female. The operation spanned several counties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Florida.

The suspects, the oldest of which was a 65-year-old male, came from as far as Wisconsin and Alabama with the clear goal "to have sex with who they thought were 13- to 15-year-old boys and girls," a Polk County news release said.

"Despite the fact our detectives have conducted nine of these operations since 2006; despite the extensive media coverage when we talk about the numerous arrests; despite the fact we make no secret about putting suspects in jail - there are those who continue to travel to Polk County to have sex with a child," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd was quoted by Highlands Today.

"Make no mistake; we will continue to make protecting our children our number one priority. We will continue to conduct these investigations, and we will continue to arrest those who would travel to Polk County to harm children."

At least 180 charges will be slapped against the 41 suspects, ranging from:

• Attempted Lewd Battery
• Lewd and Lascivious Battery
• Unlawful use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Seduce/Solicit/Entice to commit in Sexual Act
• Traveling to Meet Minor
• Drug Possession
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Traveling to Meet/Use Computer to Solicit Guardian
• Transmission of Harmful Material to Minor
• Procuring Minor for Prostitution
• Resisting Arrest without Violence

Those arrested came from a very diverse and interesting background - one was a law enforcement academy graduate, there was a theme park employee and an electrician as well as a youth football coach.

Floyd Weid, the oldest of the suspects, had earlier asked his undercover detective to touch themselves while they chatted. At the time of his arrest, detectives found sex toys, lubricant and pillows inside his vehicle.

A prominent businessman and community leader in Lake Wales, 54-year-old David C. Ullman told his undercover detective, then posing as a 14-year-old girl, that he wanted to teach her about sensual massage.

A student of Valenica College, 29-year-old Shane A. Christopher is accused of arranging to pay $125 to have sex with a 14-year-old girl. When arrested, detectives found $131, a condom and a switchblade knife with him.

Married and a father of two children under the age of 5, Jose Aguilar, 24, allegedly told the undercover detective that he had "always fantasized" about being with a 14-year-old girl. Detectives found a gun under the passenger seat of Mr Aguilar's vehicle at the time of his arrest.