HAINES CITY, Fla. -- A major sex predator bust puts 38 men behind bars, including a teacher, veteran, and Disney tourist, accused of preying on kids.
Those men didn't know they were talking with undercover detectives as they arranged meetings with children for sex.
The operation to catch these predators has been going on for the past week, and WTSP was able to go inside this operation for an up-close look.
The video segment of this story shows you what the operation looks like from the inside. Basically, a team of 30 to 40 detectives from Polk County and all over the state sit inside a home and chat online with predators.
This sting -- called "Operation Cyber Child" -- used a house in an upscale neighborhood in Haines City.
One man is a fifth-grade teacher. Another man is a 27-year veteran from the military.
And get this: one man was visiting Walt Disney World with his wife and kids, then dropped off his family to go meet a teenage girl. At least, that's what he thought; when he got to the house, Polk County deputies busted the guy.
"You see a person, we see a monster," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told WTSP.
"These are all pedophiles. They're all dangerous. They're all out trying to have sex with very young children, and they'll even walk boldly into your home when they think you're not there to attack your child."
A craigslist ad allegedly placed by one of these men and shown to WTSP is almost entirely too graphic to quote from here. The ad's author says he's looking to be someone's first-ever partner, and "it will be our secret and you will be rewarded nicely I promise."
WTSP