16 Charged In Undercover Sting Soliciting Sex With Minors

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of 16 men during an undercover operation targeting sexual predators.

Dubbed Operation Small Talk, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives went undercover July 28 to July 30, posing as minors chatting on various social media platforms in the hopes of catching sexual predators in the act.

"The conversations, text messages and photos from these predators are so graphic, I can't even begin to describe them, other than to say they are repulsive," Chronister said.

Those arrested include a registered sex offender, Michael Daughtry, and Matthew Jones, who was charged with 51 counts of possession of child pornography. The list also includes a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, Melvin Rosa Viera, and former Manatee County Sheriff's Office sergeant, Stephen Utter.

"The repulsive behavior and messages from these 16 suspects arrested were across the board," Chronister said during a news conference Wedneday. "In some cases, when they showed up to meet these fake teens, they even brought products with them in anticipation of sex. As a parent myself, this type of activity crushes me to my core. No child should suffer at the hands of an adult trying to turn their corrupt fantasies into a reality."

Moody's office has been working with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to take child sex predators off the streets.

“As attorney general, I am proud of the work of our statewide prosecutors and the Hillsborough County deputies that resulted in the arrests of these monsters," she said. "As a mother, I am deeply disturbed at how many predators are out there—online and in our communities—looking to harm children. Thanks to great police work there are a few less in our midst today and that should serve as a bold warning to anyone looking to harm a child in Florida.

"For years, social media has given our children a new platform to talk with and engage people across the globe," Chronister said. "Unfortunately, it has also become a place where online predators can hide behind a computer screen. As your sheriff, I will continue to chase down these vile human beings and put them behind bars where they belong."

Assisting with arrests during Operation Small Talk were:

• Hardee County Sheriff's Office
• Manatee County Sheriff's Office
• Pasco County Sheriff's Office
• Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
• Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
• St. Petersburg Police Department

Arrested were:

• Alaa Alameh, 43, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit illegal acts, traveling to meet a minor after using a computer/device to solicit illegal acts and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• James Cifuentes, 29, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit illegal acts, three counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Michael Daughtry, 45, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit illegal acts, transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Miles Haager, 48, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit illegal acts, transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Matthew Jones, 43, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit illegal acts, three counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communications device and 51 counts of possessing child pornography
• Brandon Lewis, 32, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit illegal acts, transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Chad Michaels, 50, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit certain illegal acts, traveling to meet a minor after using computer services/devices to solicit certain illegal acts, unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Jacob Miller, 38, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit certain illegal acts and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• David Moreno, 47, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit certain illegal acts, traveling to meet a minor after using computer services/devices to solicit certain illegal acts and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Dominick Passaretti Sr., 59, charged with use of computer services or devices to solicit certain illegal acts and traveling to meet a minor after using computer services/devices to solicit certain illegal acts

Chronister reminds parents and guardians to pay attention to who their children are chatting with online.

See related story: Manatee Sheriff's Sergeant Arrested In Online Teen Sex Chat Sting