The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested fifteen people on charges of soliciting sexual acts or attempting to buy sex from juveniles across multiple online platforms and applications.
During the multi-day undercover operation, from April 21, 2025, through April 24, 2025, detectives with the Human Trafficking Section and Internet Predator Unit posed as relatives of a juvenile and claimed to be selling that minor for sex. Additionally, detectives posed as juveniles on social media and conversed with the suspects, who sent explicit photos of their genitalia to the believed juvenile, and had explicit sexual conversations through text messages or video calls, all while knowing their fictitious age.
As a result, twelve suspects physically traveled to the location with the intent of committing these offenses against a juvenile and were taken into custody at that time. The body camera video attached above is the arrest of Walter Rivera, 48.
Three suspects agreed to purchase sex from a person believed to be a juvenile, but did not come to the location. They were later arrested on warrants for charges related to the investigation.
"As technology continues to enhance and more of our children use the internet as a way to advance their education, connect with friends, and communicate with loved ones, these predators are using it to torment, manipulate, and prey on the innocent," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "By arresting these fifteen criminals, our detectives continue to prove that crimes against kids will never be tolerated in Hillsborough County."
The Lakeland Police Department and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office assisted with the arrest of two wanted suspects. Any further information on this operation will come from HCSO's Public Affairs Office.
