August 12, 2020
By: Staff Report
TAMPA, Fla. – Sheriff Chronister and Attorney General Ashley Moody held a Press Conference on Wednesday to update the public on ‘Operation Small Talk’, a 3- day online operation that involved undercover detectives going online and posing as minors. The operation led to the arrest of 16-men.
Moments ago, HCSO released the photos and video of the suspect’s mugshots, charges, and arrests taking place.
“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,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister
“Proactive policing, taking predators like this off the street requires funding, and as we have taken these actions this week to remove them from our streets, there are those calling to defund investigative units do just this around the nation,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody, “According to the national sex offender registry the average abuser who will go on to exploit 117 victims in their lifetime.”
“It was certainly a challenging task, especially with the extreme vulgar conduct of these suspects and are detectives acted with eagerness and diligence to apprehend these criminals,” said Chronister, “We also had a number of law enforcement partners who I’d like to take just a quick moment to thank for their assistance the Hardy County, Manatee County, Pasco County, Pinellas County and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office along with the Saint Petersburg Police Department.”
Moody added, “Think about those numbers and think about that to compare to the number of people the sheriff Chronister and his men and women have taken off the streets.”
The Video below was provided by HCSO and Shows the suspects being detained by deputies.
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