sting

Published on: August 20, 2024

Phone Scammers Stole $113,000 from 73-Year-Old Woman

A woman from Clearwater, Florida, was the alleged victim of a telephone scam that cost her $113,000.

According to reports, a 73-year-old woman recently received a call from a man claiming to be a federal agent. He had an Indian accent, and he reportedly informed her that her bank accounts were under attack. He let her know that transferring her funds to an escrow account was the only way to protect them and said he could help her do that. The victim was allegedly instructed to withdraw $17,760 and convert it to Bitcoin using a QR code provided by the caller.

After the initial transaction, the man reportedly called back and told the woman to withdraw more money in the amount of $46,000. A male came to her home to collect the cash, and when he used a code word they previously agreed upon, she thought he could be trusted. A third transaction allegedly took place, and she handed over another $50,000 in cash to the same person.

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Published on: October 3, 2020

Soda, Candy, and Cash Used in Sex Trafficking Scheme

by Staycie R. Sena

A Florida man accused of having sexual encounters with a teenage girl allegedly used snacks and $150 as an offering when unknowingly interacting with an undercover agent during a sting operation.

Gregory Thomas Garcia is a 34-year-old man who resides in Orange Park.

As reported by the authorities, Garcia began communicating online with a 16-year-old girl in a purported effort to arrange sexual encounters.

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Published on: December 14, 2017

University Student Arrested in Sting for Soliciting Sex from Teen

by Staycie R. Sena

An Orwell, Ohio man attending Youngstown State University was arrested as the result of an ongoing local police department sex sting. The man believed that an undercover officer was a 15-year-old boy, and he allegedly pursued a physical relationship with the teenage imposter through online communication.

On December 5, 22-year-old Albert Maruna, IV began interacting with a person with whom he located through an online dating application. He was under the impression that he was interacting with a teenage boy. Over the course of a week he engaged in online conversation which turned sexual in nature, including descriptive messages about specific explicit acts he would like to perform together, and nude photographs. He is also believed to have developed romantic feelings for the boy based on the content of his messages.

In actuality Maruna was corresponding with an undercover officer posing as the teen in an ongoing sex sting operation. According to the police report, when the officer first informed Maruna that he was 15, Maruna stated that he does not believe in age, and he was comfortable with the situation as long as the boy was as well.

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Published on: November 30, 2017

Orange County Probation Officer Accused of Stealing Cash on the Job

by Staycie R. Sena

46-year-old Juan Manuel Rodriguez is employed as an Orange County probation officer. While on assignment with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Tactical Apprehension Team he has been suspected of taking money from the residents of the homes where he assisted in serving search warrants.

On August 8 Rodriguez visited a residence in Santa Ana in order to serve a search warrant. The person being served was distracted during the period that Rodriguez was inspecting their identification card, and they claimed that $150 had gone missing from their wallet. The victim alerted one of the sheriff’s deputies on site immediately after noticing the money was gone.

According to prosecutors, sheriff’s officials made the decision to organize a sting operation two days after the incident was reported in an attempt to apprehend the offender. A vehicle was rigged with a hidden surveillance camera and $1,200 was planted inside.

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Published on: November 15, 2017

Firefighter Arrested for Soliciting Detective Posing as 14-Year-Old in Online Sting

by Staycie R. Sena

A Florida firefighter working with Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department was arrested on Tuesday for exchanging online messages of a sexual nature with a person that he believed was a 14-year-old girl. In actuality, the man had been speaking with an undercover detective impersonating the teenager for over three months.

In an attempt to better protect children from online sexual predators St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office launched “Operation Cruel Summer.” This project involves detectives posing as youth and visiting internet chat sites to engage in conversations with people seeking sexual relations with children.

The detective who purportedly spoke with 53-year-old David Eugene Labelle, the accused, had responded to an ad found online on July 27. Under the heading “Naughty Daughter,” the ad Labelle is accused of posting said, “Hi, how are you doing today? I would like to talk to you and let’s see what we can come up with. I have been looking for my naughty little girl. I am a 53 year old white married man.”

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