16 Arrests Made For Child Porn Possession And Distribution

LAKELAND, FL — Sixteen men were arrested at their Polk County homes for child pornography possession, distribution and promotion. A total of 1,409 felonies were filed against the suspects, with more charges pending, a news release said.

The arrests stem from the Polk County Sheriff's Office “Operation Guardians of Innocence V” which focused on identifying and arresting those involved in child pornography.

After detectives served search warrants to each of these suspects, they discovered child porn images on their electronic devices, mostly personal computers.

"These images are not just pictures of children without clothes," said Sheriff Grady Judd in a news release. "These videos and photographs are horrific images of children being forced to expose their genitalia and forced to perform sex acts – images of children being raped. Those who upload and share child pornography are victimizing children over and over again. Those arrested in this operation create the demand that sustains a child pornographic exploitation distribution pipeline that traumatizes children across the world. Their behavior is disgusting.”

Polk County Sheriff's Office child pornography arrests and charges:

• Nabor Molina, 45, Lakeland, 125 counts possession of child pornography
• Joshua Charles Johnson, 27, Davenport, 200 counts possession of child pornography
• Stephen Lilly, 61, Lakeland, 100 counts possession of child pornography
• Julian Strong, 28, Auburndale, 100 counts possession of child pornography
• Justin Hazan, 32, Davenport, 15 counts possession of child pornography
• Arlandres Sims, 36, Davenport, 25 counts possession of child pornography
• Edgardo Acevedo Cancela, 38, Davenport, 5 counts possession of child pornography, 5 counts promotion of child pornography
• Monty Cottengain, 64, Lakeland, 20 counts possession of child pornography
• Landen Ulrich, 18, Lakeland, 200 counts possession of child pornography
• John Aziz, 35, Haines City, 72 counts possession of child pornography, 13 counts possession of prescription drugs without a prescription, 1 count keeping a residence for drug use, 1 count possession of codeine, 1 count possession of oxycodone, 1 count possession of Alprazolam
• Herberto Santiago, 59, Davenport, 15 counts possession of child pornography
• Scott Michael Bradley, 49, Winter Haven, 20 counts possession of child pornography
• Gary Bennett II, 27, Winter Haven, 100 counts possession of child pornography
• Evan Sharpe, 29, Lakeland, 100 counts possession of child pornography
• Jonathon Richards, 27, 300 counts possession of child pornography
• Jose Vertoli Llanes, 21, 4 counts possession of child pornography