Lake County deputies arrested ten people (read: would-be pedophiles) who were involved in attempting to engage in sexual conduct with a law enforcement officer posing as a minor during a four-day operation.
Among those arrested were several who were already registered pedophiles: Billy Childress of Sorrento, Frederick Curtis of Eustis, and Scott Allen Fureman of Leesburg.
All ten of those arrested are now facing sexual-related charges, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
“These arrests illustrate the importance of continuing these operations to protect our children,” Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said.
“Parents need to know who their children are communicating with on the internet,” he continued.
The sheriff’s office called their sting Operation Flip Flop, and it was designed to target individuals who were trying to meet children online for “inappropriate activity.”
There were 45 different employees from different agencies who were working together to make this pedophile sting a success.
Detectives began the sting by posing online as either a 13-year-old or 14-year-old child and they would lure suspects to travel to them for the purpose of having an inappropriate relationship with them.
However, when the men arrived, they didn’t get the fun and frolic that they thought. Instead, they were taken into custody by Lake Travis’ Finest.
What does this illustrate for us?
Well, one of the main things that we as parents should keep in mind is that we should always be aware of just who our child might be talking to.
This includes not just whom they might be talking to on the internet either, but individuals such as teachers, coaches, Sunday school teachers, counselors, neighbors, and anyone else that might be in their life.
If parents would take a more active role in their children’s lives, there wouldn’t be as much of a need for some of these law enforcement stings! Don’t let the police be your babysitter!