ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- Several people have been arrested in a week-long undercover sting for using the internet to sexually exploit children.
Seventeen people were arrested in Operation: Sheepdog, investigators announced today.
"It brought these men out of the shadows and brought them into the light of justice," said Special Agent Dominic Pape from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, the state attorney and the North Florida Internet Crimes against Children Task Force collaborated on the bust.
Investigators said they will work with the state attorney's office to prosecute these alleged offenders to the fullest extent of the law.
"If you download child pornography in St. John's County or you try to meet children and you're an adult, we're going to find you and put you in jail," said St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar. "I mean, that's the number one priority."
The following people were arrested, according to the sheriff:
Adam Morris, 22, Gainesville
Soliciting 13-year-old female
Alvin Smith, 25, Deltona
Soliciting 14-year-old female
Benjamin Harrison, 39, Jacksonville
Soliciting a 14-year-old female
Brandon Hardy, 20, Valdosta, GA
Soliciting 12-year-old male
Christopher Logue, 26, Jacksonville
Soliciting 15-year-old female
Christopher Smith, 29, Waycross
Soliciting 8 yo female
Donald Stephens, 55, Jacksonville
Soliciting 11-year-old female
Francisco Nunez, 27, Jacksonville
Soliciting 14-year-old female
Efrain Perez, 23, Kissimmee
Soliciting a 12-year-old female
Jimmy Santiago, 28, Orange Park
14-year-old female
Joshua Johnson, 29, Yulee
Soliciting 14-year-old male
Kenan Dumanjic, 24, Jacksonville
Soliciting 14-year-old female
Melvin Crosby, 28, Jacksonville
Soliciting 14-year-old female
Murtaza Panjwani, 27, Weston
Soliciting 14-year-old female
Robert Jones, 40, Jacksonville
Soliciting 14-year-old female
Sui Law, 20, Jacksonville
Soliciting 14-year-old female
Ronald Thompson, 47, Jacksonville
Soliciting 11- and 13-year-old males
First Coast News