A husband and wife, a substitute teacher, a former Navy pilot and a businessman visiting Florida from Italy were all among 28 people arrested in a massive online child sex sting in Osceola County.
Deputies said the suspects traveled from all over to come to Kissimmee for sex with what they thought were underage girls, but turned out to be undercover cops.
The undercover operation lasted five days. Surveillance video of the sting showed just a few of the suspects -- including Michael Cassetta, the businessman from Italy who thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl -- showing up at the address given, only to find themselves surrounded by deputies.
"It is a big problem, and we want to send the message to those people who are targeting young children that if they try to do this, they will get caught," said Twis Lizasuain, with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies posed as young girls or parents in online chat rooms and instant message programs, and arranged to meet each suspect.
The husband-and-wife couple, Zack Marvin and Heidi Freer, thought they were talking to a father and his 14-year-old daughter online.
Investigators said the suspects brought drugs, candy, sex toys and condoms.
"These people that are targeting young children are a wide range of ages, as well as occupations," Lizasuain said.
Those occupations include a former Navy pilot, Jason Dillabaugh of Winter Park; and a substitute teacher, Kristopher Gilbert of Titusville.
The sex sting is Osceola County's third in the last two years, leading to a total of 70 arrests.
"This operation should also be a warning to all parents to monitor and be involved with their child's computer activities," said Sheriff Bob Hansell.
All suspects were booked into the Osceola County Jail.
Names of 28 suspects
- Christopher Bennett, 33, Sebastian
- Darnell Bryan, 22, Ocala
- Michael Cassetta, 45, Malara, Italy (visiting on business trip)
- Carl Cooksey, 36, Orlando
- Michael Crevier, 45, Orlando
- Jason Dillabaugh, 39, Winter Park (Former Navy pilot)
- Raymond Foy, 25, Tampa (U.S. Army soldier)
- Heidi Freer, 25, Lady Lake (husband is Zack Marvin)
- Anthony Fulbright, 36, Eagle Lake
- Kristopher Gilbert, 34, Titusville (substitute teacher)
- Christopher Guyton, 27, Orlando
- Damion Hickman, 30, Kissimmee
- Jerry Johnson, 34, Brandon
- Carlos Landron-Santiago, 30, St. Cloud
- Zack Marvin, 27, Umatilla (Wife is Heidi Freer)
- Jonathan Nostades, 20, Orlando
- Lorne Oland, 39, Cocoa
- Michael Perez, 25, Orlando
- Douglas Platt, 27, Altamonte Springs, FL
- Richard Rogers, 42, Poinciana
- Miguel Perez, 42, Winter Haven
- Glyn Sutton, 52, Kissimmee
- Colton Trigin, 19, Orlando
- Bryan Tejeda, 21, Kissimmee
- Jeremy Vannice, 32, Orlando
- Dylan Vogt, 20, Ocoee
- Brian Wilkins, 46, Orlando