A yearlong joint operation led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Tampa Police Department (TPD), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) has resulted in the arrest of 44 sexual offenders and predators who violated Florida’s registration laws by creating unreported online dating accounts.
The operation, dubbed Operation Matchmaker, targeted individuals who failed to disclose their online activity as required by law, putting unsuspecting users at risk.
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The operation was conducted in collaboration with Match Group Americas, the parent company of popular dating platforms such as Match.com, Tinder, and Hinge.
Match Group worked closely with law enforcement to identify and terminate accounts belonging to registered sexual offenders and predators, in accordance with their user agreement policies that prohibit such individuals from using their platforms.
During the investigation, law enforcement identified and confirmed online dating accounts associated with registered sexual offenders and predators across Florida.
Once these accounts were verified, Match Group immediately terminated them.
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The 44 individuals arrested during Operation Matchmaker include both sexual offenders and sexual predators, with charges ranging from failure to register online accounts to other violations of Florida’s sex offender registration laws.
Among those arrested were:
- Jose Aguirre, sexual offender
- Charles Allen, sexual predator
- Cheryl Vazquez, sexual predator
- Stephen Olman, sexual predator
- Daimanion Jones, sexual predator
A full list of those arrested can be found below. Each individual faces charges related to non-compliance with Florida’s sex offender registration requirements, which mandate that offenders report all internet identifiers, including usernames and email addresses used on dating apps and social media platforms.
Florida law requires registered sexual offenders and predators to report detailed information to their local sheriff’s office, including their residential address, telephone numbers, vehicle information, internet identifiers, photographs, passport details, and conviction history. Failure to comply with these requirements is a felony offense.
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FDLE’s Enforcement and Investigative Support (EIS) Unit plays a key role in ensuring compliance with these laws by partnering with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The unit also provides resources for the public to access information about registered sexual offenders and predators in their area.
Full List of Arrests:
- Jose Aguirre, sexual offender
- Charles Allen, sexual predator
- Donnell Armstead, sexual offender
- Nicolas Bergin, sexual offender
- Marcus Bostic, sexual offender
- Jack Bozeman, sexual offender
- Donald Brown, sexual offender
- Christopher Burston, sexual offender
- David Coronel, sexual offender
- Anna Cosenza, sexual offender
- Gary Daughtry, sexual offender
- Jacob Doyle, sexual offender
- Isaac Edwards, sexual offender
- Gary Eichner, sexual offender
- Garry Gallagher, sexual offender
- Robert Gibson, sexual offender
- Bernard Gold, sexual offender
- Julius Halyard, sexual predator
- Chad Hanson, sexual offender
- James Hill, sexual offender
- Daimanion Jones, sexual predator
- Johnnie Lane, sexual offender
- Michael Long, sexual offender
- Leonardo Lopez-Navarro, sexual offender
- Kristipher Mathis, sexual offender
- Kirt Mclane, sexual offender
- Jeffrey Mentzer, sexual offender
- Gregory Miller, sexual predator
- Cheryl Vazquez, sexual predator
- Jorge Nieto, sexual offender
- Jacqueline Numata, sexual offender
- Stephen Olman, sexual predator
- Arthur Passeri, sexual offender
- Geremi Pierce, sexual offender
- Howard Renew, sexual offender
- Salvador Rivera, sexual offender
- Anthony Rodriguez, sexual offender
- Ian Rouse, sexual offender
- Michael Rowland, sexual offender
- Paul Shamonsky, sexual offender
- Matthew Spedding, sexual offender
- William Stratman, sexual offender
- Guarionex Villate, sexual offender
- Bakeebakeem Whitfield, sexual offender
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