Local

50 charged in central Florida child predator sting

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Fifty people, including two teachers, were arrested in connection with a multi-county child predator operation in central Florida.

The investigation began on the Internet with postings on message boards and in chat sites. Investigators said the men exchanged photos and even had lengthy conversations with what they thought were children, and in some cases, the parents of those children.

Investigators said each suspect then traveled to Seminole County, thinking they were going to be having sex with children.

A young woman met every suspect at the door of the meet-up home, and hidden deputies arrested them as they entered.

Now, each suspect now faces felony charges.

Officials said among those arrested in the sting were tourists, college students, businessmen and several school employees.

Suspect Duncan St. Gelais, 25, is an English teacher at New Smyrna Beach High School, while Jorge Ferreira, 43, works at Ocoee Middle School.

Officials in Ocoee said Ferreira didn’t show up for work on Monday, and Orange County said it is still waiting for him to self-report the arrest.

Officials said Ferreira will not be allowed back on school grounds but will be placed on paid leave until the board acts.

The suspects range in age from 19 to 60, authorities said.

Law enforcement with every central Florida county was involved in the operation, as well as many police departments and the FBI.

Investigators said many of the men went as far as to make phone calls and exchange photos, trying to determine if it was a sting operation.

"Most of the men that traveled all asked us if we were law enforcement officers," said Maj. Dennis Lemma of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. "They all suspected that this might be a sting. They feared apprehension but came anyway."

Investigators said specialists in computer forensics are going through each suspect's computer looking for evidence of past crimes or other possible victim.

Only one of the 50 men arrested had a prior conviction for sex crimes and was a registered sex offender.

All of the cases will now head to the state attorney's office.

The sting was named Operation Cardea, which authorities said was named after the Roman goddess Cardea, who serves as protector of the home.

Suspect listing below:

Kory Scott Weber 5/4/1987 25 Mount Dora
Kyle Joseph Vicini 7/12/1986 26 Orlando
Anthony Rozek Wilks 2/1/1992 20 Sanford
Steven Edward Rader 1/28/1958 54 St. Cloud
Richard Dennis Johnson 8/20/1965 47 Morrisville
Edwin Calderon De Leon 10/10/1991 21 Orlando
Joshua Kenneth Meyer 11/20/1990 22 Orlando
Duncan J St Gelais 4/28/1987 25 Ormond Beach
Brandon Harvy Francis 4/30/1993 19 Sanford
Horacio F. Rivera Jr 6/3/1980 32 Altamonte Springs
Robert Morris Daras 7/6/1958 54 Altamonte Springs
Seth Buma 8/17/1993 19 Sanford
Patrick C. Millis 2/4/1986 26 Melbourne
Christopher S. Ruiz 5/16/1991 21 Orlando
Peter J. Kolva 2/20/1969 43 Sanford
Romy Saint Pierre 5/23/1983 29 Orlando




Terry J. Whippie 5/25/1963 49 Hudson
Jorge L. Vazquez 6/23/1979 33 Kissimmee
Ryan M Holland 9/11/1991 21 Melbourne
Daniel A. Yacenda 3/1/1979 33 Debary
Matthew R. Cubberly 8/25/1986 26 Kissimmee
Jacob I. Bomboy 7/6/1990 22 Winter Park
Hayden A. Ferrell 1/3/1994 19 Oviedo
Wesley P. Ritchie 8/12/1964 48 Oviedo
Max W. Yehnert 6/12/1991 21 Cocoa
John E. Gutierrez Larrea 3/23/1986 26 Winter Park
Ruben Santos 6/6/1983 29 Haines City
Richard Vega Collazo 5/20/1977 35 Kissimmee
Collin S. Morrison 9/10/1986 26 Deltona
Alexander Lopez 6/24/1975 37 Casselberry
John L. Jenkins 6/17/1958 54 Orlando
Michael A. Henson 5/31/1952 60 Orlando
Robert F. Donnini III 2/11/1993 19 Orlando
Ronald Lee Dotson 12/8/1959 53 Oviedo
Ryan E. Sizemore 12/2/1988 24 Orlando
Danny Thomas, Jr. 4/14/1983 29 Deland
Johnathan P. Chapman 8/13/1987 25 Sanford
David M. Miller 10/10/1979 33 Altamonte Springs
Jason Perez 3/14/1986 26 Miami
Gary Antich 2/14/1980 32 Daytona Beach
Jorge Daniel Ferreira 1/17/1969 43 Orlando
Anthony Mina Wahba 2/14/1992 20 Kissimmee
Joshua Bryan 9/18/1990 22 Orlando
Jonathan Adamow 10/11/1988 24 Orlando
James Ryan Tolison 9/20/1987 25 Apopka
Joseph Donald Hoeflinger 10/8/1953 59 Winter Springs
Michael Edwin Midgley 8/5/1987 25 Orlando
John Anthony Malino 7/13/1988 24 Orlando
Gabriel Efrain Karell 11/3/1992 20 Orlando
Derek Aaron Salzburg 11/7/1989 23 Orlando