MCSO Sexual Predator Sting Leads to 25 More Arrests

BRADENTON – After concluding a week-long undercover sting operation, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of 25 subjects from Operation Green Shepherd III. The operation was part of a series of investigations targeting sexual predators.

Operation Green Shepherd III began on Monday, February 10 and concluded on Monday, February 17. As in previous Green Shepherd operations, detectives went online in various undercover capacities and subsequently set up meetings with the defendants at an undercover residence in Manatee County. The defendants went to the residence believing they were meeting up with a juvenile for a sexual encounter. 

The defendants were arrested on charges including Travel to Seduce/Solicit/Entice a Child to Commit Sexual Act, Use of a Computer to Seduce/ Solicit/Entice a Child to Commit Sexual Act and Attempted Lewd and Lascivious. 

The following agencies assisted in this operation: FDLE, Bradenton, Sarasota, North Port and St. Petersburg Police Departments and the Sarasota, Polk, Lee, Seminole and Lake County Sheriff’s Offices. Click here to see the MCSD arrest reports.