ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A Hastings man is facing nine felony charges and a federal immigration detainer after St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office detectives say he sent explicit material to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl during an undercover operation.
Carlos Alfredo Varela Hernandez, 30, of Hastings, was arrested Sept. 23, and booked into the St. Johns County jail. His total bond was set at $97,500.
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Undercover operation
According to the arrest warrant, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation designed to identify suspects who use the internet to sexually exploit children. Between Sept. 3 and Sept. 6, 2026, a detective acting in an undercover capacity was contacted by Varela Hernandez via text message.
Court documents state Varela Hernandez initiated a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover officer, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl. The communication reportedly began the evening of Sept. 3 and continued through the evening of Sept. 14.
Charges
Varela Hernandez faces nine felony charges, including:
- Using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a child
- Using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony
- Six counts of transmitting information harmful to minors
- Attempted promotion of sexual performance by a child
According to the probable cause affidavit, Varela Hernandez sent the undercover officer a total of five photographs and one video, all depicting explicit content. Court documents also state he encouraged the undercover officer not to disclose her age and asked whether she could come to his residence or if he could pick her up.
Identification
Investigators say they were able to positively identify Varela Hernandez through a distinct tattoo. According to the warrant, the defendant sent a second undercover officer an explicit photograph that included the tattoo. Detectives say they compared it to a photograph on file from a prior law enforcement contact and confirmed it was the same individual.
Immigration detainer
In addition to the criminal charges, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed an immigration detainer on Varela Hernandez the same day he was booked.
The detainer, issued by DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention and Deportation, states that Varela Hernandez is believed to have illegally reentered the United States after a prior removal. DHS also indicated he “otherwise poses a risk to national security, border security, or public safety.”
Federal documents state the determination was based on biometric confirmation of his identity, a records check of federal databases and statements made voluntarily to an immigration officer. Booking records list his birthplace as Mexico City, Mexico, and his citizenship as Mexico.
A federal warrant for arrest was also issued Sept. 23, commanding any authorized immigration officer to take Varela Hernandez into custody for removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.