A multi-agency law enforcement effort, dubbed Operation Twelve Parsecs, has resulted in the arrests of 13 individuals accused of targeting minors online for sexual activity and transmitting child sexual abuse material.
The five-day, online sting operation was a collaborative effort involving numerous local, state, and federal agencies committed to combating child exploitation.
The Operation and Charges
The operation focused on predators engaging in sexually explicit and harmful communication with minors, distributing child sexual abuse material, and attempting to arrange in-person meetings for sexual activity.
Inspectors, agents, and analysts from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) spearheaded the initiative, partnering with a wide range of agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Agriculture, Homeland Security Investigations, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Several local law enforcement groups also participated, including the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Gulf Breeze Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department…