VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — At least 14 people were recently busted in an undercover predator sting in Volusia County, deputies said.
The sting targeted adults who reach out to children online in hopes of having sex with them, deputies said. However, those children were really undercover investigators.
Deputies said the undercover five-day operation wrapped up over the weekend and resulted in multiple arrests. Several local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were involved.
"I was there for a couple of takedowns. When I left there, I needed to take a shower," said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. "They know what they are doing is illegal, but they do it anyway."
Channel 9's Mike Springer was at a 1:30 p.m. news conference where Chitwood said the undercover agents made contact with 60 people and that more arrests could be made.
One of the people arrested was Christopher Chierchio, who is a convicted sex offender. Chierchio was on vacation in Volusia County from New York when he tried to meet up with a child, investigators said.
"Parents don't seem to get it and kids don't seem to get it. This is what's out there, lurking in the internet," Chitwood said.
Investigators said not everyone deputies chatted with met with the decoy. But investigators said many of them still sent graphic photos of themselves, so more arrests could be coming.
"These are sick, twisted individuals who are wired differently than we are," Chitwood said.
There are more than 400 registered sex offenders living in Volusia County. More than 260 of the offenders live in Daytona Beach.
Names and charges of the suspects arrested:
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Sending harmful image to a minor
Attempted lewd or lascivious battery
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Attempted sexual battery
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Possession of heroin
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Sending harmful image to a minor
Attempted lewd or lascivious battery
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Sending harmful image to a minor
Attempted lewd or lascivious battery
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Sending harmful image to a minor
Attempted lewd or lascivious battery
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Sending harmful image to a minor
Attempted lewd or lascivious battery
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Use of a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Travel to seduce/solicit/lure a child
Use of a 2-way communication device to commit a felony
Sending harmful image to a minor
Attempted lewd or lascivious battery
Watch video of the busts below:
Sheriff says they made contact with 60 different people. More arrests could be possible pic.twitter.com/UVxpxj4gyL
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) May 15, 2017
VCSO's undercover sexual predator sting operation caught multiple people over 5 day period last week.
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) May 15, 2017
Cox Media Group
