MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) along with other organizations conducted an online sting operation that led to the arrest of 33 men accused of seeking sex with children.
Officers posed as children online and the men engaged in sexually explicit conversations and graphically described the sexual acts they hoped to perform with children.
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Officials said many of the men arranged to meet with children who they thought were 13-15 years old. Some even traveled from outside of Florida.
Deputies and detectives seized guns, drugs, cash, and cars from the men.
“It always turns our stomachs to find individuals out there that are trying to prey on children here in Marion County,” Sheriff Billy Woods said. “Our message is clear; we will continue to devote our time and resources to bring these disgusting predators to justice. Child predators have only one place in Marion County...and that’s the Marion County Jail.”
Woods urged parents to know what their child is doing.
“[We arrested] 9 people that traveled to meet with a child for sex,” Woods said. “Your children are prey. Know what your child is doing on social media and online gaming.”
MCSO said more arrests are expected as detectives follow up on cases.