Sheriff Bob Gualtieri Holds Press Conference to Discuss Operation Cyber Shield (26-079)

PINELLAS COUNTY - On September 15, 2026, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press conference to discuss an investigation titled Operation Cyber Shield.  

 

Detectives arrested 15 suspects during Operation Cyber Shield, a five-day operation which sought out individuals who chat with minors or their parents online for the purpose of meeting and engaging in sexual activity with children as young as four years old  

 

Sheriff Gualtieri stated, “This is nuts. It really is and it ruins kids’ lives. But what is even worse is when the people who view this junk, these videos of kids involved in sex, act on their urge to have sex themselves with these young children and we always say that one leads to the other and this operation is proof that that’s what happens.”

 

To view the full press conference, visit: https://youtu.be/4Qav9cKC2IQ 

 

Additional Information:


Darren Angus (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 2/11/1993
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

 

Christopher Carlson (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 7/13/1975
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Controlled Substance

 

Connor Collins (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 12/29/2003
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

 

Mauro Cruz-Platon (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 4/16/2004
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

 

Jonas Jozaities (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 6/5/1998
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

 

Douglas Lee (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 9/25/1995
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

 

Gregory McKinney (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 3/26/1980
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Attempted Capital Sexual Battery

 

Robert Meli (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 12/19/1967
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Possession of Oxycodone

 

Juan Morales Tol (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 6/5/1990
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

 

Christopher-Michael Patterson (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 7/16/2003
Charges: Two counts of Harmful Transmission to a Minor and Solicitation of a Minor

 

Michael Rozum (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 11/13/1985
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, Harmful Transmission to a Minor

 

Robert Schwierking(Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 6/25/1940
Charges: Two counts of Traveling to Meet a Minor

 

Jacob Thomas (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 12/30/1991
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor, two counts of Harmful Transmission to a Minor

 

Christian Vasquez (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 11/29/2004
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor

 

Fernando Garcia Velez (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 9/18/1996
Charges: Traveling to Meet a Minor