MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A summer-long, multi-agency investigation targeting internet-related sexual offenses resulted in 27 arrests and 247 criminal charges in Manatee County, authorities said.
The investigations were conducted as part of Operation Safe Childhood, an effort involving the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Department of Corrections Probation, MCSO said Wednesday in a news release.
One portion of the operation, Operation Match Maker, focused on registered sex offenders and sexual predators who failed to report dating apps, social media accounts and other required internet or registration information, the sheriff's office said.
Since the MCSO Sex Offender Unit and FDLE began the investigation in March, detectives reviewed 105 probationary offenders and identified 40 online accounts requiring additional investigation.
That work resulted in 15 offenders being identified with alleged violations and 115 felony charges, the agency said.
A second review of 82 sexual predators led investigators to identify additional accounts and one more offender in violation.
Crime Stoppers tips and anonymous complaints also helped investigators uncover unreported social media and internet accounts, as well as violations involving email addresses, temporary residences and employment, the sheriff's office said.
Operation Match Maker resulted in 15 arrests and 115 felony charges. The operation ended July 9, when the sheriff's office, FDOC Probation and FDLE took the offenders into custody.
Separately, the MCSO Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated leads provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Investigators obtained multiple search warrants at locations throughout Manatee County.
That investigation resulted in 12 arrests and 132 criminal charges, including felony and misdemeanor offenses, the sheriff's office said.
Charges across the two investigations included possession and promotion of child sexual abuse material, promotion of animal sexual abuse material, failure to register, knowingly providing false information at the time of registration and violation of probation, investigators said.
The combined investigations resulted in 27 arrests and 247 charges.
See Also:
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Bradenton Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.