A cook at a Walt Disney World resort, an HIV positive man, and a former military police officer are among the suspects arrested in an Polk County Sheriff’s Office online sex predator sting
PCSO undercover detectives conducted a 6-day investigation called “Operation Cyber Guardian Fall Haul” from Oct. 2 through Oct. 7.
Detectives posed as girls and boys on social media platforms and online dating sites to investigate those who prey upon and travel to meet children for illegal sexual activity.
Detectives say the suspects communicated with and solicited people they thought were children between the ages of 13 and 14 for sex acts.
The suspects all showed up to a location in Polk County at separate times to meet who they thought were children. Many of the suspects had condoms and lubricant with them when they were greeted by detectives.
Those arrested include men in their twenties, thirties and fifties. The men arrested were from Kissimmee, Montverde, Lake Mary, Davenport (2), Winter Haven, Orlando (6), and Holiday.
“These predators are out there, trying to sexually seduce and violate children. They lurk in chat rooms and online, ready to groom children for sex. Fortunately, because of the great work of our detectives, at least 13 of them won’t be doing that any time soon,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
“The things that these predators say to children they believe are 13 and 14 are vile and disgusting. Even seasoned, trained detectives are repulsed. The bottom line is that these predators need
to be locked up and kept away from children,” said Judd,
Here are the 13 suspects and the crimes they are accused of committing:
28-yr old Christian Labarca Morles of Kissimmee.
Detectives say on Oct. 3, 2018, Morles engaged in a conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl he met on an online dating site.
Upon initiating the conversation, he allegedly asked “how many dudes are you inviting over for sex?” and asked if the female was a virgin and if she wanted to be taught how to engage in sex.
Detectives say Morles traveled to the undercover location where he was arrested without incident. He also brought condoms to the location with the intent to have protected sex with the minor. Morles is in the country on a work visa from Venezuela. He told deputies he is a delivery driver for Amazon.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-2)
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor For the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
29-year old Richard Victor Hicks of Montverde (Lake County.)
Detectives say on Oct. 4, 2018, Hicks responded to an online profile posted by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old boy.
Hicks allegedly began asking the boy about his sexual experience and described the sex acts he wanted to perform on him.
Detectives say Hicks traveled to the location where he was arrested without incident. Detectives discovered a bottle of lubrication in his pocket and learned post-arrest he was HIV positive (Hicks told detectives he was HIV positive).
Hicks told deputies he is a truck driver for Florida Paints.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Attempted Uninformed HIV Infected Sex Intercourse (F-3)
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony (F-3)
• One Count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-2)
• One Count Traveling to Meet a Minor For the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
24-yr old Justin Brandon Kinard of Lake Mary.
Detectives say on Oct. 4, 2018, Kinard responded to an online profile posted by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl.
He asked if she liked “older boys” and what the age was of the “oldest boyfriend” she has ever had. Kinard allegedly described in great detail the many sexual acts he wanted to perform on the 14-year old.
Detectives say he traveled to the location where he was arrested without incident. During a check of Kinard’s criminal history, detectives learned he was arrested in Seminole County in November 2017 for obscene communication with a minor. Kinard is a student at Orange Technical College.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
• One Count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-3)
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony (F-3)
22-year old Robert Grassano-Mazeika of Davenport.
Detectives say on Oct. 4, 2018, Grassano-Mazeika engaged in conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl he met in an online chat platform.
Grassano allegedly initiated the conversation by asking if they could have sex in the pool. He further sent a photograph of his genitals and described the sex he wanted to engage in.
After agreeing to travel to the undercover location, Grassano lied about his age and stated he was only 17 in an attempt to convince the girl the sex would be “legal.” Once at the location, he was arrested without incident.
Deputies say he was found to be in possession of condoms and a bottle of lubrication and disclosed he works at Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel as a cook.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-3)
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony (F-3)
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
28-yr old AbrahamVafan Dukuly of Winter Haven.
Detectives say on Oct. 4, 2018, Dukuly responded to an online profile, posted by an undercover detective, whom he believed was a 14-year old girl.
After initiating contact, Dukuly allegedly began asking for multiple photographs. The conversation eventually moved to the cell phone where Dukuly made repeated calls and engaged in talk regarding the 14-year old’s sexual experience.
Detectives say Dukuly traveled to the undercover location and was arrested without incident. Dukuly is from Liberia and is in the country on a refugee status. He is unemployed.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony (F-3)
• One Count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-2)
26-year-old Thien Nguyen of Orlando.
Detectives say on Oct. 5, 2018, Nguyen engaged in conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl he met on an online chat platform.
As Nguyen initiated the conversation, he told the girl he was 18 years-old. Over the next two days, they conversed back and forth via text messages and Nguyen asked what sexual experiences the girl had and if she was willing to perform oral sex on him. Detectives say he sent a photograph of his genitals and drove to the undercover location where he was arrested without incident.
During a check of his criminal history, detectives learned Nguyen had a prior arrest from the military for two counts of Lewd/Lascivious Molestation in 2014 where he was subsequently imprisoned for approximately three years in a military prison followed by 2 years federal probation (set to expire January 2019).
His prior employment was in the USAF as a military police officer. He is employed as a manager at the “Rockin’ Crawfish” restaurant in Orlando.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-3)
• One count Unlawful Use of a 2-way Communication Device (F-3)
• One count Transmitting Material Harmful Minor (F-3)
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
• One count Misrep Age Use Computer Solicit Lure Seduction (F-2)
• One count Violation of Probation Community Control-Adult (F-3)
24-year old Timo Townsend of Davenport.
Detectives say on Oct. 5, 2018, Townsend engaged in a conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl he met in an online chat platform.
Over the course of two days, Townsend allegedly wanted to do “neck kisses” and cuddle with the young girl. During a phone call, he stated he would like to go “all the way” with her and would bring a condom.
Townsend traveled to the undercover location where he was arrested without incident.
Townsend admitted to detectives that he fully intended to have sex with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
Detectives said he works as a food runner at The Boathouse Restaurant at Disney Springs. Disney and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have clarified that he is not employed by the Disney company because the restaurant is not operated by Disney.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Traveling to Meet After Using a Computer To Lure a Child (F-2)
• One count Unlawful Use of a 2-way Communication Device (F-3)
• One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation by person 18-year-old (F-3)
28-yr old Antonio Linares of Orlando.
Detectives say on Oct. 5, 2018, Linares responded to an online profile (posted on a dating website) of an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl.
Upon initiating conversation, Linares asked if the she was home alone and if he could come see her. He continued the conversation asking if she’s ever had sex and if she would be interested in engaging in sex with him.
Detectives say Linares traveled to the undercover location and was arrested (with condoms in his pocket.) Linares told detectives he is employed as a truck mechanic.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
• One count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-2)
54-yr old Joseph Mujica of Orlando.
Detectives say on Oct. 5, 2018, Mujica responded to an online profile (posted on a dating website) of an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl.
Over the course of two days, Mujica allegedly asked the girl if she wanted to play with his genitals and described how he wanted to “make love” to her.
Detectives say Mujica traveled to the undercover location where he was arrested without incident and was found to be in possession of two condoms. Mujica is a bus mechanic.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-3)
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
34-yr old Alexander Chinea-Ortiz of Orlando.
Detectives say on Oct. 5, 2018, Chinea responded to an online profile (posted on a dating website) of an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl.
Throughout the conversation, Chinea allegedly told the girl a “good way to handle stress and get rid of boredom” was to engage in sex.
Detectives say Chinea traveled to the undercover location where he was subsequently arrested and found to be in possession of condoms. Chinea-Ortiz is unemployed.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
• One count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-3)
39-yr old Georgios Kiragiannis of Orlando.
Detectives say on Oct. 6, 2018, Kiragiannis posted an advertisement on a bulletin board site which indicated he was seeking out a younger female “friend with benefits.”
Over a series of emails, Kiragiannis allegedly said he would offer gifts in exchange for a girl he believed as 14 years-old performing sex acts with him.
Detectives say he sent four pornographic images depicting various acts and asked the young girl if she would perform the acts depicted in the photos with him and offered a new iPhone 8+ to her in exchange.
Kiragiannis traveled to the undercover residence and was arrested without incident. During a search, detectives found a new unwrapped iPhone 8, various sex toys, condoms, lubricant and male enhancement pills. Kiragiannis is a manager at a Fed Ex.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Transmit Material harmful Minor (F-3)
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
• One count Attempted Lewd Battery (F-3)
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
34-yr old Carlos Agasta Llanos of Orlando.
Detectives say on Oct. 7, 2018, Llanos responded to an online advertisement posted on a dating website by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl.
During the conversation, Llanos allegedly expressed wanting to get to know someone. As Llanos befriended the girl, he began sending photographs (11 total) of his genitals as well as two videos of himself masturbating. He traveled to the undercover location where he was arrested. Llanos is a maintenance worker.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
• Thirteen counts Transmit Material Harmful Minor (F-3)
29-yr old Frank Otero of Holiday.
Detectives say on Oct. 7, 2018, Otero responded to an online advertisement posted on a dating website by an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl.
Throughout the conversation, Otero allegedly solicited the female for sex and oral sex. He described the sexual activities he wanted to engage in with her and agreed to travel to meet for sex.
Detectives say he lied about his age saying he was 19. He was arrested outside the undisclosed location and threw his cell phone in an attempt to discard evidence. He brought condoms. Otero told deputies he is a warehouse manager at Bay Linen.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
• One count Use 2-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3)
• One count Destroy/Tamper with Fabricate Physical Evidence (F-3)
• One count Traveling to Meet a Minor for the Purpose of Sex (F-2)
• One count Misrep Age Use Computer Solicit Lure Seduction (F-2)
• One count Attempted Lewd Lascivious Molestation (F-3)
• One count Resisting Officer w/o Violence (M-1)