Sheriff: 40 men arrested in Marion County child predator crackdown

File photo: Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods talks at a press conference in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Forty men have been arrested in a sweeping law enforcement operation targeting individuals accused of attempting to meet minors for sex, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods announced Wednesday.

The six-day operation, which involved multiple agencies including the Ocala Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, Homeland Security, and the offices of the State Attorney and Attorney General, focused on suspects who believed they were arranging to meet children aged 13 to 15.

“These always are bittersweet, sweet in the fact that we’re getting these criminals off the streets, protecting children, and a lot of hard work goes into that, but always still disturbing, because this even exists in our society,” said Lt. Paul Bloom at the start of the press conference.

Sheriff Woods emphasized the collaborative effort required for such a large-scale operation. “These operations are so large that it requires the collaboration of all these offices being put together. These resources have to come together because they wouldn’t be successful like they are,” Woods said.

Among those arrested was a retired first sergeant of the Army, who is currently a contractor for the Department of the Army. “This one probably for a split second, broke my heart. Retired first sergeant of the army. He’s a contractor for the Department of the Army right now, that breaks my heart,” Woods said.

The operation also included a University of Florida student in the United States on a visa. Sheriff Woods criticized the university’s initial response to the arrest. “One of them who was here, a student at the University of Florida, here on a visa. Now, here’s my plea to Secretary Rubio… ensuring that this visa gets revoked. But that night, a moron at the University of Florida said, ‘No, we’re not going to revoke his visa. It’d be okay until he comes back, until the trial is done.’ What person in your right mind, regardless of policy that you have in place, do you think it is okay to keep an individual in this—not only this county, but in this state, in the United States?” Woods said.

He added that higher-level university officials later took action. “Luckily, the higher ups in UF felt a little pressure. Could have been General Uthmeier, could have been myself for today. As far as I’ve been updated, they’ve kind of stepped up to the plate,” Woods said.

Investigators used a variety of online platforms to identify and apprehend suspects. “We’re using social media. We’re using dating apps, we’re using things like Snapchat, a wide array of different platforms to attract a bunch of different offenders,” said Sgt. John Lightle.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called the arrests “a monumental announcement” and praised the work of law enforcement. “To go after young kids, there is no defense, there is no

justification, there is no excuse. It will not happen. It cannot happen in Florida, and we will work every day to make sure that we are getting every single one of these guys off the streets,” Uthmeier said.

The operation also highlighted the use of social media platforms, including Snapchat, in facilitating these crimes. Uthmeier noted that the Attorney General’s Office is pursuing legal action against Snapchat for allegedly exposing minors to harm.

Sheriff Woods concluded, “We will not tolerate these crimes. They are inexcusable, and these men and women that did the investigation, they dot the i’s, they crossed the t’s… We will do the best we can to put these people in prison.”

Authorities urge parents to monitor their children’s online activity closely.