Jason Perez of Miami, Florida and 49 others were arrested recently for allegedly travelled to meet children for sex, news sources report. The arrests were the result of a special operation targeting pedophiles. Perez, 26, was booked into police custody on charges of using a computer to seduce a child and traveling to meet a child he seduced online; it is not clear whether he has qualified for bail. Reports did not provide the identities of the 49 other suspects or their charges, nor did reports specify which of the defendants have hired a criminal defense attorneys.
Reports say the Orlando Police Department ran a one-week undercover investigation that targeted predators looking to meet children for sex online. The detectives conducted the operation out of an Orlando home. As part of the investigation, detectives posed as underage teens and tried to lure possible offenders to the home. The undercover agents used a variety of online services, including social media websites and chatting applications, as a means to this end, reports say.
The officers allegedly found Perez using a social media app that allows people to chat and discuss sexual topics. According to reports, Perez chatted with a detective who was posing as a 14-year-old boy named "Kevin." Although the officer allegedly told Perez that he was only 14 numerous times, Perez continued chatting and attempted to solicit a photo from the boy to prove that he wasn't a police officer, sources say. Detectives say he also pushed for unprotected sex during the chats.
After chatting for an unspecified amount of time, Perez allegedly arranged to meet the 'boy.' Perez traveled from Miami to the Orlando home, but when he arrived, he was taken into police custody.
Perez was only one of 50 men arrested during the one-week operation, reports say. Police arrested 49 other men, whose ages range from 19 to 60, on similar charges. "[the suspects] feared apprehension, but yet came [to the home] anyway," a police spokesperson said.
Although police involvement in these arrests prevented injury to any party, police are not able to prevent all crimes. Ricardo Marquis Davis of Palm Bay, Florida was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly bit off his girlfriend's thumb during a spat, a report says. Doctors were unable to re-attach the severed appendage to Yvonne Martinez, the victim. Davis, 35, was booked into the Brevard County Jail on charges of aggravated battery.