Pinellas Conducts Third Online Traveling to Meet a Minor Sting Operation

Our office has reported in the past about ongoing sting operations by the Pinellas County Sheriff to arrest individuals for the crime of “Traveling to Meet a Minor.” See: April 22, 2014 “Traveling to Meet a Minor Becomes Number One Priority for Pinellas Sheriff.” These multi-day criminal investigations have utilized extensive PCSO resources and included the cooperation and participation from other Pinellas law enforcement operations. In some cases, they have even entailed assistance from federal authorities. To date, the following four day sting operations have taken place:

 

 

 

• Operation Home Home Alone
  January 23rd through January 26th:    
• Operation Guardian
  April 10th through April 13th
• Operation Cyber Justice Weekend
  September 25th through September 28th

Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri released a statement on September 29th saying  that “This year, the Florida Sheriff’s Taskforce operations have resulted in the arrest of over 130 people who were preying on kids for sex.” Gualtieri believes that law enforcement’s increased efforts “are modifying the behavior of these child sexual predators who have been seeking sex with minors through the internet.”

The most recent sting operation incorporated ten hour shifts of investigators working over the course of four days. Undercover officers posed as minors and engaged in chat sessions designed to snare adults for unlawful conduct. Individuals arrested in the latest sting were booked into the Pinellas County Jail for both felony and misdemeanor offenses. These included: traveling to meet a minor, transmission of material harmful to minors, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, battery, resisting arrest and violation of probation.

Arrested During an Internet Sting Operation?

If you have been arrested in connection with one of these internet sting operations you should first educate yourself on this matter by reviewing our comprehensive website page dedicated to this topic.  You can also watch our video on this subject which has been embedded below.

These are serious charges that carry serious ramifications if convicted. Penalties for this offense include:

• designation as a convicted felon;
• a mandatory state prison sentence called for under the Florida Criminal Punishment Code (Sentencing Guidelines);
• registration in a national database as a “sexual offender.”

Call a Lawyer Who Can Help!

St. Petersburg / Clearwater 
Pinellas County, Florida  


Criminal Defense Lawyers 

Call a Former State Prosecutor! 
Free Consultation with Criminal Defense Attorney
(727) 578-0303

Criminal Defense Solutions: www.defensehelp.com
Help With a Pinellas / St. Pete / Clearwater DUI: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Pinellas Prescription Pill Arrests: http://floridaprescriptionfraud.com/

 

Learn About Over Zealous Sting Operations and Defenses to Internet Sex Crimes

Related Links:

How to Choose the Right Criminal Defense Attorney
Having a  Proper Strategy for Defending Your Criminal Charge
How to Find the Best Criminal Defense Attorney

Technorati Tags: Operation home alone,operation guardian,operation cyber justice weekend,Pinellas,sheriff,sting,arrest,traveling to meet a minor,law enforcement,police officer,bob gualtieri,sexual predators,minors,internet,felony,misdemeanor,sexual offender,attorney,lawyer