15-149 Nine Suspects Arrested in “Operation Intercept” -

15-149 Nine Suspects Arrested in “Operation Intercept”

SVU Operation

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Special Victims Unit
-Crimes Against Children Unit
-Burglary/Pawn Unit
-Computer Forensics Unit

Clearwater Police Department

Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Lake County Sheriff’s Office

Homeland Security

Sarasota Police Department

Osceola County Sheriff’s Office

What:
Detectives arrested 9 suspects during “Operation Intercept,” a 4-day operation, which sought out individuals who chat with “minors” on-line for the purpose of meeting and engaging in sexual activity.

When:
“Operation Intercept” ran from Thursday, June 11, 2015 through Sunday, June 14, 2015.

Where:
The operation command center was at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Why/How:
During 2014, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and partnering agencies conducted three operations identifying and arresting 67 men who used various internet “chat rooms” and websites to prey on what they believed to be young children. As a result of these 67 arrests, 30 cases have been resolved in the court system with 16 defendants being sentenced to jail and 14 receiving probation. Two cases resulted in charges not being filed by the State Attorney. The State Attorney has filed charges against the remaining 35 arrested suspects and their cases are pending disposition.

Over this past weekend (between June 11, 2015 and June 14, 2015) detectives conducted another operation to identify and arrest persons using the internet to meet and have sex with young children. During “Operation Intercept,” investigators or “chatters” posed as minors on various websites to include on-line classified pages, social media sites and various chat rooms. During their online engagement, investigators established a rapport with the subjects and developed cases where the suspects would arrange to meet with the “minor” for the purpose of sexual activity.

A total of 9 new suspects were arrested in “Operation Intercept.” The individuals arrested are listed below with their charges.

Yazer Vargas O’Connor (Arrested)
DOB: 11/18/1983
Address: 15 N. Fernwood Avenue, Clearwater
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

Chad Renner (Arrested)
DOB: 2/8/1991
Address: 4651 1^st Street North, St. Petersburg
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Transmission of Harmful Material, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia

Jacob Steven Knowles (Arrested)
DOB: 8/28/1987
Address: 1767 Farrell Avenue, Clearwater
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

Husein Durakovic (Arrested)
DOB: 12/31/1985
Address: 751 49^th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

Corey Brand (Arrested)
DOB: 9/1/1990
Address: 4411 3^rd Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia

Michael Hill (Arrested)
DOB: 5/5/1988
Address: 30875 42^nd Way, Pinellas Park
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Transmission of Harmful Material

Michael Beckford (Arrested)
DOB: 4/10/1981
Address: 9142 109^th Avenue North, Largo
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

Mohamed Areef Hayathu Mohamed (Arrested)
DOB: 6/21/1972
Address: 3556 66^th Street North, St. Petersburg
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

Keith Chatfield (Arrested)
DOB: 8/26/1991
Address: 6801 Pleasant Oaks Pl., Riverview
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

The suspects were arrested and transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

This brings to four the number of operations of this type conducted by PCSO and our partner agencies over the last year in Pinellas County and the total number of arrests to 77. Our investigative efforts will continue to detect those who are preying on our vulnerable children.

Booking Photo Chad Renner