Undercover Operation Arrests Sex Offender Suspects
By Space Coast Daily // July 26, 2013
'Operation Sand Spider' Sting busts 11
ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey talks about the cooperative partnership between the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and member agencies of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) that included personnel from 10 local, state, and federal agencies. Eleven suspects were arrested during the operation for traveling to meet a minor for sexual relations.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has released the results of an undercover operation, which targeted individuals attempting to engage in activities that illegally involved minors via the Internet.
The Operation was a cooperative partnership between the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and member agencies of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) that included personnel from 10 local, state, and federal agencies.
Eleven suspects were arrested during the operation for traveling to meet a minor for sexual relations.
Agencies who participated in the operation include Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Rockledge Police Department, Sanford Police Department, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Office of State Attorney 18th Judicial Circuit and United States Attorney’s Office.
The suspects traveled from as far away as Miami to engage in a sexual relationship with what they thought were children.
The suspects arrested ranged in age from 24 to 69 years of age. Many of the suspects arrived with items ranging from beer and candy bars to sex toys.
One of the individuals arrested during the operation was 42-year-old Todd Kroeber of Port St Lucie, who brought a 17-year-old boy to Brevard County for the purpose of having that minor engage in sex with a child.
Further investigation revealed that Kroeber is a registered Sex Offender on Federal Probation for Child Pornography.
The investigation determined that Kroeber had been engaging in a sexual relationship with the 17-year-old, as well as arranging for other men come to his residence in Port St Lucie to engage in sex with the boy. Kroeber was arrested on Federal charges and turned over to the U.S. Marshal Service in Orlando to be prosecuted via the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As a result of the investigation, 3 minor victims were identified and rescued from further sexual exploitation.
SUSPECTS ARRESTED DURING THE OPERATION
- Justin Arbuckle, 29, Cocoa, FL
- Christopher Case, 49, Melbourne, FL
- Melvin Adams, 69, Ft. Pierce, FL
- Ernesto Corcho, 34, Miami, FL
- Andrew Reed, 25, Orlando, FL
- Todd Kroeber, 42, Port Saint Lucie, FL
- Maxwell Loomis, 23, Micco, FL
- Christopher Bryant, 35, Ocoee, FL
- Dexxter Bennett, 25, Orlando, FL
- Mackendjo Etienne, 21, Fort Pierce, FL
All suspects were charged with Traveling to meet a minor for sex.
All suspects were transported to the Brevard County Jail where they were being held on at least $35,000 bond, with the exception of Kroeber who was transferred into Federal custody.
The investigation is ongoing with additional charges and arrests expected. Anyone with information concerning the investigation is urged to call the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office SORT Unit at 321-633-8413 or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
All calls to CRIMELINE are confidential, and callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward for information leading to an arrest.
