Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Arrest of 21 Child Predators in Osceola County Sting

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Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of 21 child predators as part of an undercover sting led by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office in coordination with the Central Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Office of Statewide Prosecution, HSI, and other partner law enfocement agencies.

"In Florida, there will be no mercy for the merciless," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "Twenty-one more predators went looking for a child and found handcuffs. If anyone tries to prey on kids in this state, we will find you, arrest you, and put you behind bars."

For more than a week in September, undercover detectives posted online as 13- and 14-year-old children, and in a four cases as parents offering up children as young as seven. The men knew the ages, made plans to meet, and were arrested when they arrived in Kissimmee.

Defendants range in age from 22 to 64. Four came from out of state. Two left their children at a vacation rental to meet with the children. Four are foreign nationals, from Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, and Ecuador. The Venezuelan national was already under a removal order. Twenty were arrested for traveling to meet a minor for sex, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. One Defendant, Charles Victor Morgan, was initially involved in a similar operation in March 2026 and continued communications with the undercover detectives through September and was arrested for Soliciation of a Minor.

The Office of Statewide Prosecution charged the following defendants by Information:

Abraham Jacob Zamora, 30, of Kissimmee

• Unlawful Travel to Meet a Minor (Parent) for Unlawful Sexual Conduct

Leslie Augustus Anderson, 34, of Winter Haven

• Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
• Attempted Lewd or Lascivious Battery of a Child Under 16

Jaquaun Akeem Rhodan, 35, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina

• Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
• Attempted Lewd or Lascivious Battery of a Child Under 16

Thomas George Walsh, 41, of Grand Junction, Colorado

• Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
• Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery of a Child Under 16
• Solicitation of a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device

Walter Heger, 64, of Germantown, Tennessee

• Traveling to Meet a Minor for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
• Solicitation of a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device

Charles Victor Morgan, 36, of Christmas

• Solicitation of a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device

The following defendants were arrested and have charges pending, or were referred to the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit for prosecution:

Luis Angel Lopez-Cruz, 33, of Kissimmee, Osceola County

Aquacious Keith Williams, 34, of Kissimmee, Osceola County

Christian Noguera-Quintero, 27, of Venezuela

Martin Alejandro Rojas-Castillo, 22, of Ecuador

Bryson Eric Herzberger, 23, of St. Johns, St. Johns County

Eric Daniel Kreft, 50, of Davenport, Polk County

Carlos Omar Valdes-Rosales, 40, of Honduras

Danny Joseph Rios-Gonzalez, 28, of Orlando, Orange County

Andrew Wiliam Chandler, 42, of Kissimmee, Osceola County

Johnny Arturo Sanabria-Lopez, 33, of Kissimmee, Osceola County

Juan Sebastian Beltran-Robayo, 27, of Orlando, Orange County

Isaiah Manuel Padovani, 25, of Kissimmee, Osceola County

Jonathan Leonardi Leyva-Pascual, 25, of Mexico

Franklin Safo-Agyare, 34, of Palm Bay, Brevard County

Joshua Allen Edwards, 46, of DeBary, Volusia County

The defendants will be prosecuted in the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida. The investigation remains ongoing and more charges may be announced.

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