Polk County child sex predator sting: 7 charged, 1 on the run after undercover investigation
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Law enforcement officers have arrested seven suspects and are still searching for one more following a multi-agency undercover investigation that focused on sexual predators who target children.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, detectives posed as children and adults who have access to children on social media platforms, mobile apps, and online dating sites to investigate those who prey upon and travel to meet children for unlawful sexual activity.
PCSO worked with the Auburndale Police Department, Davenport Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, and Hardee County Sheriff's Office.
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Investigators say the suspects communicated with and solicited who they thought were children or adults who had access to children online. Five suspects showed up to an undercover location in Polk County at separate times to sexually batter children, according to PCSO.
Image is courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Those five suspects, according to detectives, wanted to pay an adult hundreds of dollars to have sex with who they thought was a child. They were charged with human trafficking, a life felony.
Detectives got arrest warrants for three other suspects who committed crimes against who they thought were children online. Two of those suspects are in custody, and one, John Adams, 61, of Dunedin, is still at large.
Adams is accused of sending a social media message in response to an ad posted online by an undercover detective. Detectives say he communicated with an adult who had access to a child, and expressed his desire to pay to perform sex acts on the child. He said he was a gentleman and respectful and that he wanted to "enjoy this experience with her."
He has been charged with use of a computer to solicit a guardian and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
Law enforcement officers are still searching for John Adams.
Suspects arrested
William Merrill, 45, of Plant City
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Merrill sent a social media message in response to an ad posted online by an undercover detective and communicated with an adult who had access to a child expressing his desire to pay $80 to perform sex acts on the child. Detectives say he went to the location with the cash and a condom in his pockets.
After being arrested, detectives learned he is a registered sex offender because of a 2005 conviction for statutory rape in Georgia. He was previously arrested by PCSO in 2017 during an undercover prostitution investigation, for which he spent 364 days in jail.
"He is a classic example of how they never change their stripes. If they’re not locked up, no matter what status we put them on, no matter how many times they have to check in, he’s out seeking deviant sex with children," Judd stated.
Merrill was charged with human trafficking, use of a computer to solicit a guardian, traveling to meet a minor, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, attempting to travel to meet a minor, and attempted use of a computer to solicit a guardian.
Larry Hayes, 41, of Plant City
Detectives say Hayes sent a social media message in response to an ad posted online by an undercover detective. He communicated with an adult who had access to a child and expressed his desire to pay $250 to perform sex acts on the child.
Hayes is also accused of sending several explicit images of his genitalia to the undercover detective. Investigators say Hayes traveled to the undercover location and was arrested. He told detectives that he is retired from the U.S. Army and is married with three children.
"He immediately tells us, ‘I’m there to rescue her.’ Well, the reality is – we rescued some child from him," Judd shared.
Hayes has been charged with human trafficking, use of a computer to solicit a guardian, traveling to meet a minor, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony
Edmundo Dasilva, 37, of Holly Springs, NC.
Dasilva is accused of sending a social media message in response to an ad posted online by an undercover detective. According to detectives, he communicated with an adult who had access to a child, and expressed his desire to pay $60 to perform sex acts on the child. He said that he would be traveling through Florida and would like to meet, and that he had just turned 18 years old.
Investigators say Dasilva traveled to the undercover location and was arrested. He had two condoms in his pocket. He told detectives that he is married and that he works for Homeland Security as a Transportation Security Officer.
Judd said he told deputies that he had TSA training, and he was there to do his own investigation.
"Well, too bad buddy," the sheriff added. "We’re taking you to the county jail, and we’re going to give you some screening on the way in."
Dasilva was charged with human trafficking, use of a computer to solicit a guardian, traveling to meet a minor, and using a two-way communications device to commit a felony.
Brandon Ray, 34, of Mulberry
Detectives say Ray, who told detectives he is a bus mechanic with Polk County Public Schools, sent a social media message in response to an ad posted online by an undercover detective and communicated with an adult who had access to a child and expressed his desire to pay $100 to perform sex acts on the child. According to PCCO, he repeatedly asked for photos of the child but noted that he watched the 'catch a predator' show on TV.
"He said he was worried and scared to travel because he was scared of law enforcement in Polk County. He said, ‘That Grady don’t play.’ Well, he’s right about that. When we arrested him, he said, Yeah, that’s me’ and then he tells the detective, ‘I still respect that Grady Judd for all the work he does to protect children in this community.’ How many brain cells do you really have? I mean, you’re the guy I’m trying to protect the kids from with my great detectives and those from the police departments. I appreciate you respecting me," Judd said. "I hope you like the accommodations at the jail."
Ray has been charged with use of a computer to solicit a guardian and use of a two-way communications device to commit a felony.
Hasan Abu Halemeh, 27, of Brandon
Halemeh is accused of sending a social media message in response to an ad posted online by an undercover detective. He communicated with an adult who had access to a child and expressed his desire to pay $225 to perform sex acts on the child.
Detectives say he asked if the girl was a virgin and if he would be "her first." He traveled to the undercover location and was arrested.
Judd noted that Halemeh is married.
"Does it ever occur to you that there’s got to be some mad wives and if not, there should be," Judd said. "There should be ex-wives because, upon their conviction, they’re not coming home."
Halemeh has been charged with human trafficking, use of a computer to solicit a guardian, traveling to meet a minor, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
Nelson Louis, 29, of Tampa
According to PCSO, Louis sent a social media message in response to an ad posted online by an undercover detective. He communicated with an adult who had access to a child, and said he "just wanted to have fun before he went to work."
Detectives say he agreed to pay $100 for a half-hour of sex with the child. He traveled to the undercover location and was arrested.
He was charged with human trafficking, use of a computer to solicit a guardian, traveling to meet a minor and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
Manuel Canasi, 45, of Land O’Lakes
Canasi is accused of sending a social media message in response to an ad posted online by an undercover detective. He communicated with an adult who had access to a child and expressed his desire to pay $100 for a half hour alone with the child.
He sent the undercover detective a screenshot of Sheriff Judd holding a news conference, saying, "That Sheriff out there is a hard a** and doesn’t play."
According to investigators, Canasi tried several times to travel to the undercover location but was unable due to his job and other family obligations (he is married and has a son and two teenage daughters). Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest and he was taken into custody in Pasco County.
He has been charged with use of a computer to solicit a guardian, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Response Team also conducted an initiative in February 2024, aimed at ensuring compliance with Florida's registration laws for convicted sex offenders and sex predators within Polk County. Detectives charged 16 suspects with failure to comply with registration laws and/or violation of probation.
Antone Renar Starks, 48, and James Macarthur Johnson, 39, are still at large for failing to comply with sex offender registration laws.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact Heartland Crime Stoppers by calling 1-888-400-8477, dialing **TIPS from a cell phone, logging onto www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com or downloading the free "P3tips" on a smart phone or tablet.
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