POLK COUNTY, Fla. - A total of 18 child predator suspects face more than 100 combined charges after a roundup operation in Polk County in early April.
"Operation April's Fools" drew resources from more than a dozen local law enforcement entities to crack down on sex crimes targeting children.
Undercover detectives posted "fictitious" ads or profiles online, posing as children as young as 13-years-old and sometimes as parents of young children.
Many of the suspects solicited these fake profiles for sex acts, some asking for or providing pornographic material, some driving to a specified location to follow through with the aforementioned sex acts.
Six suspects were from Polk County, while all but one of the remainder traveled from around the state. One suspect resides in Alaska and was visiting Polk County.
The suspects ranged in age from 19 to 60-years-old.
