‘Operation Cyber Springsting’: CCSO arrests 15 during cyber-predator sting operation

Garrett Phillips
·3 min read
‘Operation Cyber Springsting’: CCSO arrests 15 during cyber-predator sting operation

CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office announced the results of “Operation Cyber Springsting,” an undercover operation aimed at apprehending cyber-predators who attempted to engage in sexual activity with minors.

During a news conference at the office’s Emergency Operations Center, Sheriff Mike Prendergast announced 15 individuals arrested for sending explicit messages, pictures, and detailed sexual requests to who they thought were minors, with some traveling over an hour to meet with a minor to engage in sexual activities.

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“Operation Cyber Springsting removed 15 despicable criminals from our streets and put them behind bars, far away from our children. Each committed acts detrimental to the safety of our community, some even going as far as to travel for several hours to meet up with a child to carry out heinous acts,” said Sheriff Prendergast. “I am proud of the exceptional partnership between our agency and the law enforcement agencies who assisted in bringing these disgraceful monsters to justice. Our HTCU will continue to work diligently to stop sexual predators from preying on our children.”

The sheriff’s office announced the arrest of the following individuals as part of “Operation Cyber Springsting”:

Credit: Citrus County Sheriff’s Office
Credit: Citrus County Sheriff’s Office

  • John Steven Baretela Jr., (65), Brooksville, FL – Travel to Seduce/Solicit Child in Sex Act, and Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor. Total bond set at $50,000.

  • Fredy Guillerno Betancourth Reyes (30), Tampa, FL – Travel to Seduce/Solicit Child in Sex Act, 3 Counts of Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor, and Solicitation of a Minor. Total bond set at $125,000.

  • Kymani Josiah Bryan (22), Ocala, FL – Travel to Seduce/Solicit Child in Sex Act, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device. Total bond set at $27,500.

  • Mitchel Ryan Carter (32), Dunnellon, FL – Travel to Seduce/Solicit Child in Sex Act, 8 Counts of Possession of Child Pornography, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device, Total bond set at none.

  • John Edward Hughes Jr. (40), Hernando, FL – Travel to Seduce/Solicit Child in Sex Act, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device. Total bond set at $27,500.

  • Jose Alejandro Santana (29), Seffner, FL – Travel to Seduce/Solicit Child in Sex Act, and 4 Counts of Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor. Total bond set at $125,000.

  • Joseph Henry Sysol (37), Brooksville, FL – Travel to Seduce/Solicit Child in Sex Act, Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor, and 12 Counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Total bond set at none.

  • James Patton Dillman (43), Floral City, FL – Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor. Total bond set at $25,000.

  • Stephen Anthony Cisneros (27), Inverness, FL – 2 Counts of Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor. Total bond set at none.

  • Debra Fuller (64), Dunnellon, FL – Sex Offender Failure to Report to Sheriff’s Office within 48 Hours of Vacate/Relocate, and Sex Offender Fail to Update Telephone Number within 48 Hours. Total bond set at none.

  • Dylan Kelly (31), Citrus Springs, FL – Sex Offender Failure to Report to Sheriff’s Office within 48 Hours of Vacate/Relocate, and Sex Offender Fail to Report in Person within 48 Hours to DHSMV. Total bond set at $5,000 (per GPS Monitoring Order)

  • William Joseph Lamberson (38), Brooksville, FL – 6 Counts of Harmful Material to a Minor, and Solicitation of a Minor. Total bond set at none.

  • Robert James Lewis (33), Ocala, FL – 3 Counts of Harmful Material to a Minor, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device. Total bond set at $10,000.

  • Mark Lloyd Robinson (36), Aripeka, FL – 3 Counts of Harmful Material to a Minor. Total bond set at none.

  • Ivy Tendler (53), Hernando, FL – Sex Offender Failure to Report to Sheriff’s Office within 48 Hours of Vacate/Relocate. Total bond set at none.

You can watch the full news conference on the video player above.

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