Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
MORE THAN 50 MEN ARRESTED IN CHILD SEX PREDATOR STING
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) along with multiple local, state, and federal agencies just concluded a week-long undercover, sting operation targeting child sex predators. This operation, ‘Operation Bad Habits’ resulted in the arrests of 52 individuals.
Detectives posing online as children, ranging in ages from 7 to 15 years old, were solicited by these predators who ultimately arranged to meet what they thought was a child for sex. Arrested in this operation were legal and illegal immigrants, fathers, coaches, teachers and even a high school student. Several of these predators were also charged with human trafficking as they were trying to “purchase” these children for sex.
The following agencies assisted in this operation: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department, Lake City Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, US Marshal’s Service, Homeland Security, the FBI, Florida Sheriff’s Association, Office of the State Attorney Fifth Judicial Circuit and the US Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida.
Sheriff Woods said, “Once again, the amazing teamwork and determination among all these agencies involved are sending a clear message to child sex predators that Florida has no tolerance for this and we will continue to do everything we can to protect these children.”
A special thank you to the following community partners for providing food and refreshments to the dedicated men and women who worked tirelessly to help get these predators off our streets:
Kimberly’s Center Child Advocacy Center
Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza
Mojo’s Ocala
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Sonny’s BBQ
Kingdom Lien Search, LLC
Cone Farms and Ag Services
Lee and Allison Winchester with Kona Ice
Sam’s Club
Travelin’ Toms Coffee
Magnolia Bakery and
Graze & Prosper
MORE THAN 50 MEN ARRESTED IN CHILD SEX PREDATOR STING
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) along with multiple local, state, and federal agencies just concluded a week-long undercover, sting operation targeting child sex predators. This operation, ‘Operation Bad Habits’ resulted in the arrests of 52 individuals.
Detectives posing online as children, ranging in ages from 7 to 15 years old, were solicited by these predators who ultimately arranged to meet what they thought was a child for sex. Arrested in this operation were legal and illegal immigrants, fathers, coaches, teachers and even a high school student. Several of these predators were also charged with human trafficking as they were trying to “purchase” these children for sex.
The following agencies assisted in this operation: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department, Lake City Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, US Marshal’s Service, Homeland Security, the FBI, Florida Sheriff’s Association, Office of the State Attorney Fifth Judicial Circuit and the US Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida.
Sheriff Woods said, “Once again, the amazing teamwork and determination among all these agencies involved are sending a clear message to child sex predators that Florida has no tolerance for this and we will continue to do everything we can to protect these children.”
A special thank you to the following community partners for providing food and refreshments to the dedicated men and women who worked tirelessly to help get these predators off our streets:
Kimberly’s Center Child Advocacy Center
Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza
Mojo’s Ocala
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Sonny’s BBQ
Kingdom Lien Search, LLC
Cone Farms and Ag Services
Lee and Allison Winchester with Kona Ice
Sam’s Club
Travelin’ Toms Coffee
Magnolia Bakery and
Graze & Prosper
