A six-day online child sex sting operation led by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the arrest of more than 30 men, including a Little League Baseball/Pop Warner Football coach and other individuals who worked in close proximity with children.
During the online operation, law enforcement officers posing as children were contacted by numerous men, ranging in age from 18 to 64, who were looking to engage in sexual activity with children.
According to MCSO, the online conversations with these men were “sexually explicit,” and they described in graphic detail the types of sexual acts that they hoped to perform with the children.
Many of these men arranged to meet with the officers, who were posing as children between the ages of 13 to 15 years old. Some of the men even traveled from outside the state of Florida to the arranged meeting locations.
Upon arrival at the meeting spots, the men were greeted by law enforcement officers who placed them under arrest. MCSO stated that the officers also seized guns, various drugs, cash, and vehicles that belonged to the men.
As of July 30, 2024, the sting operation has resulted in the arrest of 33 men, including:
Alberto Christian Quiroz, 32, of Ocala; Catalin Chirazi, 28, of Illinois; Christopher Jonas, 32, of Ocala; Corey Anthony Myers, Jr., 18, of Ocala; Daniel Carl Harrison, Jr., 27, of Wildwood; David Villanea Araujo, 57, of St. Petersburg; Devin Joseph Rivera, 24, of Ocala; Fernando Enrique Vazquez, 31, of Mount Dora; Francisco Javier Alvarez-Tello, 27, of Ocala; Jered Michael Watford, 33, of Ocala; Jhon Jairo Astudillo, 44, of Ocala; Jimmy DeJesus, 44, of Stuart; John Thomas Broadnax, 32, unknown city/state; Joseph Andrew Dibello, 47, of Wildwood; Joseph Raymond Morin, 50, of Ocala; Joseph Rocco Quaranta, 48, of Dunnellon; Keith Alan Gage, 58, of Ocala; Kenneth Allen Tabor, 64, of Ocala; Kirtan Patel, 23, of Ocala; Kyle Shane Reynolds, 27, of Ocala; Malachi Immanuel Stocker, 26, of Ocala; Marc Anthony Herrera, 41, of Ocala; Michael Paul Cruse, 28, of Ocala; Nathaniel Hawthorne Howard, Jr., 27, of Ocala; Obdy Mencias, 40, of Ormond Beach; Oscar Armando Cardenas-Brito, 38, of Ocala; Oscar Vega DeJesus, 25, of Bowling Green; Patrick Lander, 25, of Dunnellon; Rafael Reoma Buenaventura, 40, of Ocala; Rickey Lee Miller, 45, of Ocala; Scott Alan Colson, 59, of Ocala; Thomas Matos, 33, of Summerfield; and Triston Lee Cothern, 29, of Ocala.
On Tuesday, July 30, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods held a press conference to discuss the operation. Specifically, the sheriff shared additional details regarding several of the suspects who were arrested:
- Alberto Christian Quiroz worked for a company, Kids Central, that helps children. Sheriff Woods stated that this should be “alarming” to everyone.
- Sheriff Woods stated that Francisco Javier Alvarez-Tello and Kirtan Patel are both in the country illegally. According to the sheriff, Alvarez-Tello was in the process of being deported at the time of MCSO’s sting operation.
- Joseph Rocco Quaranta coached children in Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football.
- Oscar Vega DeJesus traveled from Georgia, and he allegedly admitted to investigators that he targets children because they are “easy.” According to Sheriff Woods, DeJesus further admitted that he has previously attempted to “purchase a 7-year-old” so he could abuse the child.
- Oscar Armando Cardenas-Brito allegedly tried four times during the online sting operation to lure a young male child that he met online.
- Joseph Andrew Dibello is a repeat career offender. Sheriff Woods stated that individuals like Dibell “need to be in prison” so they are unable to prey on children.
- While in custody, David Villanea Araujo mentioned to investigators that Sheriff Woods has a “hick name.” During Tuesday’s press conference, Sheriff Woods had a message for Araujo: “This hick-ass sheriff put your ass in jail.”
While the online sting operation recently concluded, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office anticipates additional arrests as the investigation continues.
In addition to MCSO and Ocala police, the Chiefland Police Department and Florida Department of Law Enforcement also assisted with the six-day sting operation.
“It always turns our stomachs to find individuals out there that are trying to prey on children here in Marion County,” stated Sheriff Woods. “Our message is clear: We will continue to devote our time and resources to bring these disgusting predators to justice. Child predators have only one place in Marion County….and that’s the Marion County Jail.”
Sheriff Woods also shared the following message for parents: “In just one afternoon of this operation, we arrested nine people. Nine people that traveled to meet with a child for sex. Your children are their prey. Know what your child is doing on social media and online gaming.”