A recent 5-day undercover sting operation in Marion County, Florida, led to the arrest of 58 individuals who attempted to meet minors for sex. The operation, which ran from June 1 to June 6, 2026, was conducted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with multiple state and federal agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.

Operation Details

During the operation, officers went undercover in online chatrooms, posing as children between the ages of 7 and 15. Despite being informed of the ages, the suspects continued to engage in sexually explicit conversations and made plans to meet the minors in person. When they arrived at the agreed-upon locations, law enforcement was waiting to apprehend them.

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrests, stating that this multi-agency effort is part of a larger crackdown on child predators. Since taking office, Uthmeier has overseen the arrest of nearly 1,700 predators, with the latest operation being the most successful Internet Crimes Against Children bust in Marion County’s history.

Community Reaction

State leaders, including State Attorney Bill Gladson and FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass, praised the operation and vowed to continue protecting children from predators. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities expect to make additional arrests in the coming weeks.

The arrested individuals, including teachers and parents, face various charges, including use of a computer to seduce or solicit a child, travel to meet a minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.