Police Bust 22 Men For Soliciting Children

September 15, 2016

Twenty-two men have been arrested in an internet sting that targeted adults who traveled to a designated location in Pensacola to have sex with minor children.

“It is through the collaborating, partnering and building relationships that we protect our children and make the internet a safer place,” said Pensacola Police Chief David Alexander III. “This effort of arresting and prosecuting these individuals helps to stop future abuse. This was five days of hard work for our officers, dispatchers, support personnel, and personnel from other agencies in addition to the planning of this operation.”

Operation Undertow took place September 7 to 11. Warrants were issued for all of the suspects after they contacted undercover agents via computer about arranging to have sex with teen-aged males or females. The agents posted information on various websites and began talking with the suspects once the suspects initiated conversation with them.
The suspects were taken into custody once they arrived at a designated location with intentions of having sex with minor children.

“This collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies demonstrates the cooperative spirit needed to keep our children safe,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “As a father, I am at ease knowing our law enforcement personnel are successful in dealing with this issue. If these were real children in real conditions, these children would never be the same again, and it affects their entire life.”

Charged with traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child and their last known address were:

  • David Olmos, 24, of 8800 Pine Forest Road, Pensacola.
  • Calvin Pearson, 31, of 320 W. Ensley St., Pensacola.
  • Claudio Mistri, 56, of 7111 N. Blue Angel Parkway, Pensacola.
  • Devin Gilchris, 21, of 200 Ruby Ave., Pensacola.
  • Adelardo Gonzales, 51, of 233 Aquamarine Ave., Pensacola.
  • Alfred Foster, 71, of 1250 S. Sutton Trace Court, Mobile, AL.
  • Grayson Blanton, 18, of 440 Roberts Ave., Pensacola.
  • Jackson Silliman, 21, of 3359 Silkwood Lane, Pace.
  • Frank Rhobotham, 68, of 1508 E. Blount St., Pensacola.
  • Darius Lambert, 33, 449 Evening Falls Dr., Pensacola.
  • Alex Johnson, 19, 4848 Chumuckla Highway, Pace.
  • David Hoppenjan, 52, of 5622 Thistledown Court, Pace.
  • Charles Phillips, 53, of 9253 Bellingrath Road, Mobile, AL.
  • Mison Johnson, 22, of 2917 Patch Ave., Crestview.
  • Alexander Croyle, 22, of 440 Roberts Ave., Pensacola.

Also arrested and their last known addresses were:

  • Jose Ramirez-Magos, 51, of 7081 W. Lee Sir, Irvington, AL. Charged with  raveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child, transmitting information harmful to minors, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
  • John Staples, 24, of 9566 Hay Meadow Road, Milton. Charged with traveling to meet after using a computer to solicit a guardian, and possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.
  • Jeff Harrison, 26, of 46 E, Pearl Ave., Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to solicit a parent/guardian for consent and traveling to meet using a computer to solicit a guardian.
  • Erik Huber, 29, of 317 MacArthur Ave., Biloxi, MS. Charged with misrepresenting age using a computer to solicit/lure/seduce and traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child.
  • Justin Hill, 28, of 706 E. Fairfield Dr., Pensacola. Charged with traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child and transmitting information harmful to minors.
  • Christopher Foster, 24, of 10171 Weldwood Dr., Meridian MS. Charged with using a computer to seduce/lure/seduce a child and traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child.
  • Bradly Jones, 46, of 21278 Deer Circle, Lake View, AL. Charged with traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug equipment.

This was the largest multi-jurisdictional internet sting targeting people wanting to have  sex with children since Operation Blue Shepherd headed by the Pensacola Police Department. Operation Blue Shepherd resulted in the arrests of 25 men in June 2011 during a one-week period.

The Pensacola Police Department, in coordination with the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, worked the investigation with the following agencies: Escambia County, Walton County, Okaloosa County, and Brevard County sheriff’s  offices; State Attorney’s Office; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Homeland Security; U.S. Marshal’s Service; Gainesville, Tallahassee, Gulf Breeze, Panama City, and Cocoa police departments; Escambia Jail; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Warrants have been issued for several more suspects.

Comments

11 Responses to “Police Bust 22 Men For Soliciting Children”

  1. Wayne on September 17th, 2016 12:34 pm

    We are a society today who thinks that we can rehabilitate somebody from an awful sick demented thing such as looking at a child and wanting to do awful things to them. You cant rehabilitate someone like that. We need to start executing people publicly with a gun or a rope.

  2. Bob C. on September 16th, 2016 6:08 am

    What is it with these creeps?
    Surely there’s a deserted island somewhere to put these freaks and leave them to fend for themselves.
    End their, and our, suffering…..

  3. Jury on September 15th, 2016 11:56 pm

    Just disgustingly horrible… With that said i withhold judgement on the 18 and 19 year old pending more detailed information concerning there cases and the portrayed age of their would be victims..

  4. lady from Pace on September 15th, 2016 7:45 pm

    I cannot even wrap my mind around this!!!!!! And a Pastor?????? What in the world!!! I have been sick ever since I heard about this!!! Always keep your eyes on JESUS not MAN!!! There’s no excuse for this! God always provides a way out, the Pastor should have been on his knees and face praying for God to deliver him from the demon that is on him!!! Praying for the congregation and the families of these sick men.

  5. david lamb on September 15th, 2016 10:11 am

    scum bags -everyone of em!

  6. bartender on September 15th, 2016 9:25 am

    what is wrong with the system today? back in the day they had public hangings,no questions ask,no probation,no tax payers money spent for feeding and housing them.our jails and prisons are over crowed now with such sick people.death is the only answer with sick minds as these men are.look at them.most of them look sick.

  7. Lifendason on September 15th, 2016 7:59 am

    Praying for the victims. Also praying for these men and that God would save them and change their hearts and mind.

    Without a walk with Jesus we are all subject to do anything the devil tempts us to do.

  8. Mike on September 15th, 2016 7:37 am

    I’m sorry but I totally disagree with how the police handle these situations. Upon arrival to the house they have been lured to, knowing full well at this point what their intentions are, they should be put to death when that door opens. This would save so many children from suffering through the devastating trauma of sexual abuse!

  9. Anne on September 15th, 2016 6:12 am

    Reading this today and seeing it on t.v. news last night makes me wonder how many young, innocent children have been victimized by these most horrible of people.
    How many have had their innocence ripped away and how many forever carry the hurt and injury of these awful men.
    We have a huge number of sex offenders living now among us.
    Really, I do not think they are ever changed, I believe they have an addiction and something wired wrong in their brains.
    Years ago these predators would likely not have made it to a jail cell.

    Prevention begins in the home where the parents know what their children are doing and who is influencing them.

    Thank God this was a set up situation and no child harmed, this time.

  10. Bry on September 15th, 2016 6:11 am

    Bravo Zulu for a job well done. Men like this deserve the justice handed down to them.

  11. Creeped out on September 15th, 2016 2:27 am

    PERVERTS. This world has become insane. The young ones are bad enough but these creepy ass old dudes are just terrifying.
    Cut it off….fix the problem.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News