How Police Sting Operations Work in Florida Solicitation of Minor Cases

Florida takes crimes against children very seriously. Law enforcement officers employ several tactics to catch perpetrators. Child sex sting operations are one of the most common tactics law enforcement officers in Florida use to catch people who seek to engage in illegal sexual activity with minors. Usually, these operations involve undercover agents pretending to be minors or guardians of minors online or through other electronic means. These undercover agents’ goal is to see if someone will solicit an underage child for unlawful sexual conduct or try to meet them in person. If you find yourself caught up in this situation, it is vital that you understand the potential consequences you could face.

Understanding How Sting Operations Work

Here is a breakdown of how child sex sting operations work;

1.    Making Contact

The first step is for an undercover agent to set up an online profile that looks like a minor or the guardian of a minor who is willing to arrange a meeting with a minor. An officer may create an online profile on a chat room, social media, dating app, or another online forum. The goal is to lure individuals who are ready to engage in inappropriate sexual conversations or make arrangements.

2.    Communication

Once contact has been established, the undercover agent and the target engage in conversations that gradually become more and more explicit. These conversations are recorded and can be crucial pieces of evidence in court.

3.    Solicitation or Enticement

Often, the target is encouraged or prompted to engage in sexual activity, plan a meeting with the supposed minor, or solicit the guardian. Once there is an attempt to entice or persuade, that may be enough to charge the suspect with solicitation or attempted indecent behavior.

4.    Traveling or Making Physical Contact

In Florida, if the suspect travels to meet the minor, even if they never actually meet the minor (since the other party is an undercover agent), they may be charged under section 847.0135(4) of the Florida Statutes.

5.    Arrest and Charging

Once law enforcement has enough evidence, the individual is arrested and charged. The suspect could face several charges, including solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, and attempted indecent behavior.

Real Case Example: INTERCEPT Task Force Sting

A recent case shows just how serious sting operations are. In February this year, the INTERCEPT Task Force, an inter-agency task force, caught a man, whom, for purposes of this article, we will refer to as C.S., who is from St. Johns, Florida. The man engaged in explicit online conversations with an undercover detective posing as the uncle of an eight-year-old girl. He arranged to meet at a gas station and was arrested as he was traveling there in his work clothes.

After his arrest, C.S. admitted to traveling to meet the minor for sex. He also admitted to asking minors for explicit pictures and videos. Additionally, his phone contained additional CSAM. C.S. was sent to federal prison for 11 years and 3 months for attempted enticement of a minor, followed by 10 years of supervised release and mandatory sex offender registration.

Our Attorneys Can Help

At Joshi Law Firm, P.A., our Orlando sex crime lawyer understands how scary it is to be caught in a child sex sting operation. We know how child exploitation charges can affect your life and are committed to doing everything possible to protect your rights and future.

Source:

ice.gov/news/releases/intercept-task-force-nets-11-years-sentence-florida-man-traveling-meet-minor-sex