Page 34 - Florida Sentinel 3-20-20

Crime
Detectives Arrest 16 Men Who Prey Upon Children Online
Career Bank
Robber Sentenced
To 18 Years
Earlier this week, a fed- eral judge sentenced a man to more than 18 years in fed- eral prison. He was con- victed of his 13th bank robbery by a jury on Novem- ber 19, 2019.
U. S. District Judge James S. Moody sen- tenced Derrick Coleman, 41, of New Port Richey, to 18 years and 4 months. As part of his sentence, the Court also entered a money judg- ment in the amount of $5,000, the proceeds of the bank robbery.
Evidence presented at trial showed that, on June 30, 2018, Coleman visited a Chase Bank in Tarpon Springs and spoke to a teller about opening a new ac- count. As the teller ex- plained the process, Coleman placed a bag on the counter, told the teller that he had a gun, and de-
DERRICK COLEMAN
manded money from the teller. The teller complied and Coleman fled the bank with $5,000.
The Tarpon Springs Chase Bank robbery was Coleman’s thirteenth bank robbery.
From February 2007 through December 2007, Coleman engaged in a bank robbery spree, where he robbed or attempted to rob twelve banks in Illinois.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office undercover detectives, partnering with other agen- cies, conducted a seven-day undercover operation from March 10th through March 16th, 2020, during which de- tectives posed as girls and boys online, on social media platforms and on-line dating sites, to investigate those who prey upon and travel to meet children for unlawful sexual activity.
Detectives from the Des- oto, Hillsborough, Lake, and Osceola Sheriff’s Offices, and the Tampa and Altamonte Springs Police Departments, also participated in the oper- ation.
The suspects communi- cated with and solicited who they thought were children between the ages of 12 and 14 for sex acts. Most of them showed up to an undercover location in Polk County at separate times to meet who they thought were children, to sexually batter them. Some of them transmitted pornographic images and so- licited the children online, and were also charged with that crime.
In all, detectives arrested 16 suspects, including a reg- istered sexual predator; a Navy veteran who works for Disney Vacation Club; an as- sistant youth soccer coach; a grandfather with 9 grand- children; and two full-time college students. The oldest suspect is 59 and the youngest is 21.
The 16 arrested suspects face a total of 42 felony charges which include: trav- eling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, use of a computer to seduce a child, transmission of mate- rial harmful to a child, and violation of probation.
Those arrested include:
Jorge Hernandez Lopez, 44, of Davenport. He was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, and at- tempted lewd battery.
Donald Paul Diem, Jr., 33, of Winter Garden, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and at- tempted lewd battery.
JORGE HERNANDEZ LOPEZ
Jose Salgado, 28, of Plant City, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and attempted lewd bat- tery.
William Russel Bron- son, 44, of Orlando, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and at- tempted lewd battery.
Maxwell Anthony, 29, of Orlando, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and attempted lewd bat- tery.
Jimmie Rush, Jr., 30, of Lorida, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, transmission of material harmful to a minor, and using a computer to seduce a child.
Mathew Budd, 22, of Auburndale, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, and transmis- sion of material harmful to a minor.
Mitchell Gaunt, 59, of Apopka, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and attempted lewd bat- tery.
Christian Buford, 21, of Lakeland, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and attempted lewd battery.
Miguel Caez, Jr., 26, of Davenport, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for
BHAVYA SHAH
sex, use of a computer to se- duce a child, attempted lewd battery, and Violation of Pro- bation.
Nicholas Sydnes, 27, of Oviedo, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and attempted lewd
Bhavya Shah, 24, of Tampa, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and attempted lewd bat- tery.
Eric Michael Chachick, 28, of Ruskin, was charged with use of a 2- way communication device to commit a felony and trans- mission of material harmful to a minor.
Paul Lagerblade, 48, of Brooksville, was charged with two counts of using a computer to seduce a child, and use of a computer to so- licit a parent to consent to the participation of a child committing a sex act.
Carlos Javier Torres- Torres, 28, of Clermont, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and at- tempted lewd battery.
Jason Griffith, 39, of Daytona Beach, was charged with traveling to meet a minor use of two-way com- munication device to commit a felony, 2 counts of trans- mission of material harmful to a minor, and two counts use of a computer to seduce a child.
UNCLE SANDY
Always remember, 7, 30, 49, 54, 62, your focus de- termines your reality, 3 17, 26, 40, 58.
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