Wacky Internet Predator Wednesday, Issue No. 18
It’s a slow week when there are only two stories to share in the world of busted Internet predators. However, one of these stories is a sweet culmination of Operation Safe Summer 3 in Florida, which netted 27 nabbed suspects. Excellent.
Again, people, read the stories. These guys were ALL trying to solicit sex from minors, whether in chat rooms, social network pages – or the guy in Cali who used Craig’s List. Though he specified he wanted OVER 18, when a “13-year-old-girl” contacted him, he didn’t back away.
Bottom line, you need to monitor your child’s Internet activity. Just because these guys haven’t gotten to your kids, doesn’t mean they aren’t trying. You need to do what you can to make sure that doesn’t happen. And you can only do your job with knowledge – knowledge that our PC Pandora monitoring software can provide. Otherwise you are guessing and assuming… and that won’t lead anywhere but disaster.
Here are the two stories:
Suspected sexual predators arrested in sting
By Jay Meisel, Staff writerFORT PIERCE – One suspect is accused of trying to trade lobsters for an opportunity to have sex with a child.
Another was arrested after a technician discovered child pornography on his computer, which was repossessed.
They were among 27 suspects nabbed during Operation Safe Summer 3, aimed at catching sexual predators using the Internet.
A press conference held last Friday at the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office unveiled the results of the operation.
“We want to be that person they want to come in contact with and not a child,” said Brian Broughton, an investigator with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
In many of the cases, investigators said, the suspects, who were in Internet chat rooms, contacted undercover officers posing as teenagers.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said such an operation is especially needed during the summer, as children are at home.
“Summer is a time when there are many hours of unsupervised computer time,” he said.
Also participating in the investigation were the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Port St. Lucie Police Department and immigration and customs officials.
One of the suspects, Charles A. Giovinco, of Riverview, was charged with enticement of a child via the Internet and possession of child pornography.
Neil Spector, an investigator with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, said Mr. Giovinco is a principal in a business that, among other things, teaches people to dive for lobster.
Mr. Giovinco is accused of traveling to a motel in St. Lucie County to meet the supposed father of a teenager to arrange to have sex with the teen.
The deal supposedly was going to involve a trade of lobsters or lobster-diving lessons in exchange for the sex, Mr. Spector said.
Another suspect, Leonard Angelo Torres, 24, of 891 S.W. Rocky Terrace, Port St. Lucie, was charged with possession of nine counts of child pornography.
Mr. Broughton said Mr. Torres was renting the computer from Aaron’s Rental. After the computer was repossessed, a tech found multiple images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity and videos of children engaged in sexual activity.
In that and other cases, investigators are trying to identify children in the photos or videos, he added.
In all, investigators served 18 search warrants, recovered 3,100 pornographic images or videos involving children, and seized 28 computers.
In one case, Mr. Broughton said, the suspect lived in his neighborhood.
The suspects aren’t generally creepy guys seen on the corner, said Sgt. Charlie Luumpkin, a Port St. Lucie detective.
“They come from all walks of life,” he said.
Those arrested in addition to Mr. Torres who live on the Treasure Coast include:
- Francis McElderry, 46, 843 S.W. Jaslo Ave, Port St. Lucie, charged with one federal charge of child enticement.
- Glen E. Lewis, 42, 8360 Camellia Drive, Hobe Sound, charged federally with child enticement.
- Jefferson Davis, 51, 4489 Salvatori Road, Stuart, charged with possession of child pornography.
- Jergen Makowski, 46, 3321 Ferndale Ave., Stuart, charged with possession of child pornography.
- Roberto Crespo, 36, 2122 S.E. South Buttonwood Drive, Port St. Lucie, charged with one count of possession of child pornography.
- Edgardo Sensi, 52, 2750 N.W. Windmere Drive, Jensen Beach, charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
Lassen County sex predator sentenced
By Ashley Gebb- DN Staff Writer
David Borise Larson was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of probation Monday after being convicted of arranging a meeting with a minor for illicit purposes.
In April 2008, the Lassen County resident became the third man caught by the District Attorney’s Office in a sting operation to identify and prosecute sexual predators, similar to the reality TV show “To Catch a Predator,” said District Attorney Gregg Cohen. His office is satisfied with the case’s outcome.
“The most important thing is no one was molested and there was no true victim here or a real victim here,” Cohen said. “We were able to arrest this person before he did any harm to any (13-year-old) or underage girl.”
Larson, 56, was contacted by DA investigators after they found his Craigslist posting “Sugardaddy ISO attractive younger hottie to use.” Even though the ad specified “18+ ONLY!!!” they responded and suggested Larson contact the MySpace account of “Kelli,” a fake 13-year-old girl, Cohen said.
After days of online conversations, a female deputy sheriff posed as Kelli and called Larson on the phone. They arranged a meeting date that Larson later canceled. Another meeting was set up for April 24 near the Oak Hill Cemetery.
When Larson arrived, he was arrested by DA investigators and taken into custody, Cohen said. In his car he had a box of ammunition, binoculars, police scanner, .30-.30-caliber rifle, laptop, rope and items for sexual purposes. He also had $1,000 in traveler’s checks, $4,700 cash and a map of Peru in a duffel bag.
Investigators later determined he has a daughter in Peru.
After his arrest, investigators got a warrant to search Larson’s Janesville home, where they found a large number of guns, narcotics and a safe with a large amount of money, old coins and bars of silver. That case was referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office, Cohen said.
Larson, who had no prior offenses or criminal convictions, pleaded guilty on Aug. 11.
The terms of his probation require he cannot associate with any female under 18 years old who is not immediately related to him, possess or view any pornographic material or use any mobile phone, computer or computer technology for online communication with any person. He must also register as a sex offender.
When Judge Dennis Murray asked Larson if he understood the terms of his probation and would follow them, Larson solemnly said, “You know I will. Yes.”
Cohen asked Murray to consider the two computers seized in the arrest to be declared contraband. Larson’s attorney did not object, noting the District Attorney’s Office planned to use the computers for law enforcement purposes.
The District Attorney’s Office started its program to identify and catch sexual predators in February. To date, three targets have been identified, arrested and convicted.
Benjamin Dennis of Corning was contacted through his MySpace account and arrangements were made for him to meet a 14-year-old girl in Red Bluff for illicit sexual purposes. He was arrested in March, convicted of a felony and sentenced to probation.
Davey Decker of Redding was convicted of a felony for unlawful communication with a minor for illicit sexual purposes and sentenced to probation.
Cohen hopes the program will help parents become aware of the large number of sexual predators who can be contacted by or contact their children through the Internet, he said.
“I can’t stress how important it is for parents to know who their kids are communicating with, either via instant messaging, on the computer or through e-mails,” Cohen said. “And it would be my suggestion to view the contents of their kids’ e-mail and instant messaging on a regular basis.”
