ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday it conducted an undercover operation targeting suspects who utilized the internet to sexually exploit children.
During the 5-day operation, from October 12 to October 16, 2021, several agencies arrested 14 men from St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Alachua, Port Orange and Titusville.
Some of the men traveled hundreds of miles, thinking they were meeting a child.
Jail records show David Powell, Douglas Rice and Malik Henley live in St. Augustine. Ahmee Williams lives in Palatka.
The agencies that assisted in the operation include: Federal Bureau of Investigations, Department of Homeland Security, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Daytona Beach Police Department, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Port Orange Police Department and United States Marshal Service.
The 14 men arrested and their charges are listed below:
- Aaron Gay — Charged With: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child (Misrep Age); Transmit Harmful Material to a minor; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Ahmee William — Charged With: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child; Travel to meet a child; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device; Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery; Resist Officer w/o violence; Carrying a concealed firearm
- David Powell — Charged With: use computer to solicit a parent/guardian for consent; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Douglas Johnson— Charged with: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Douglas Rice — Charged With: use computer to solicit parent/guardian for consent; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Duane Adams: (Registered Sexual Predator) charged with failing to report email ad or internet identifiers
- Edward Kitchens — Charged With: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child; Travel to meet a child; Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Eric Guerette — Charged with: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Jamar Murray — Charged with: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child; Transmit harmful material to a minor; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Jose Lozano — Charged with: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child; Travel to meet a child; Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Malik Henley — Charged with: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child; Transmit harmful material to a minor; Travel to meet a child; Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Marcus Barksdale — Charged with: Use computer to seduce, solicit, lure a child; Transmit harmful material to a minor; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Ryan Childers — Charged with: Transmit harmful material to a minor; Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Tyrel Lining— Charged with: Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material
The FBI says it understands that people will use the internet but it’s important for parents to “educate yourself about the websites, software, games, and apps that your child uses.”
Multiple agencies were involved this investigation including: the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshal Service, Clay and St. Johns County Sheriffs Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.