LAKELAND, Fla. (PCSO / News Release) – From September 19 to September 25, 2023, law enforcement agencies in Central Florida conducted a seven-day-long undercover operation called “Operation Child Protector IV.” The participating agencies included the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeland Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The purpose of the operation was to investigate individuals who prey on children for unlawful sexual activity by posing as children or guardians on social media platforms, mobile apps, and online dating sites.
During the operation, the suspects communicated with and solicited individuals whom they believed to be children or guardians online. Six suspects were apprehended when they arrived at an undercover location in Polk County, where they intended to sexually assault children. Shockingly, three of these suspects were willing to pay an adult hundreds of dollars to have sex with what they thought was a child. As a result, these three suspects were charged with human trafficking, a life felony. In total, 22 felony charges were filed against the suspects.
Let’s take a closer look at the suspects who were arrested:
1. Jairo Muniz, a 40-year-old resident of Kissimmee, FL: Muniz engaged in explicit conversations with an undercover detective who was posing as a 13-year-old girl on a social networking site and via cell phone. He expressed his desires to engage in sexual acts with her and even bought condoms on his way to the undercover location. Muniz, who is married and has four daughters, claimed to be a laborer at a scaffolding company. He was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, transmission of material harmful to a minor, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
2. Timothy Wellman, a 36-year-old Ohio resident recently moved to Polk: Wellman engaged in explicit conversations with an undercover detective who was posing as a 14-year-old girl on a social networking site and via cell phone. He expressed his desires to engage in sexual acts with her. Wellman, who is divorced with two young children, claimed to be an Army veteran using his G.I. Bill for college. He was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
3. Feras Klisli, a 49-year-old resident of Davenport, FL: Klisli engaged in explicit conversations with an undercover detective who was posing as a 14-year-old girl on a social networking site and via cell phone. He asked her if she was a virgin and described his desires to engage in sexual acts with her. Klisli, who is married with two adult children, claimed to be an Uber driver. He was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
4. Douglas Da Silva, a 46-year-old resident of Windermere, FL: Da Silva engaged in explicit conversations with an undercover detective who was posing as an adult with access to a 15-year-old girl on a social networking site and via cell phone. He expressed his desires to engage in sexual acts with the girl multiple times, even agreeing to pay her $250 for unprotected intercourse. Da Silva claimed to be an Uber Eats driver and a business owner married to his wife. He was charged with human trafficking, traveling to meet a minor for sex, use of a computer to solicit the guardian of a child for sex, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
5. Trevor Walker, a 33-year-old resident of Orlando, FL: Walker engaged in explicit conversations with an undercover detective who was posing as an adult with access to a 15-year-old girl on a social networking site and via cell phone. He expressed his desires to engage in sexual acts with the girl and even offered to pay her $400 for three hours of unprotected intercourse. Walker claimed to work at Publix distribution in Orlando. He was charged with human trafficking, traveling to meet a minor for sex, use of a computer to solicit the guardian of a child for sex, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
6. Douglas Cooley, a 26-year-old resident of Apopka, FL: Cooley engaged in explicit conversations with an undercover detective who was posing as an adult with access to a 15-year-old girl on a social networking site and via cell phone. He agreed to pay her $100 for half an hour of protected sex and an additional $50 for unprotected sex. Cooley claimed to work at the Clay Springs Elementary School after-school daycare in Apopka. He was charged with human trafficking, traveling to meet a minor for sex, use of a computer to solicit the guardian of a child for sex, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
These arrests demonstrate the dedication and hard work of law enforcement agencies in protecting children from sexual predators. The individuals arrested in Operation Child Protector IV will face severe legal consequences for their actions, and their cases serve as a reminder that law enforcement agencies are actively working to combat child exploitation and keep communities safe.
It is crucial for parents and guardians to educate themselves and their children about online safety measures to prevent them from falling victim to such predators. Additionally, society as a whole must remain vigilant and report any suspicious online activity that may involve the exploitation of children. By working together, we can create a safer environment for our children both online and offline.
