The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office updated Historic City News with details of a special operation that resulted in seventeen men being arrested over a five day period for sex crimes utilizing the Internet.

The undercover operation, titled “Operation Sheepdog”, involved locating and identifying people who use the Internet this past week to sexually exploit children.

The operation involved undercover detectives posing as juveniles online to arrange for men to meet with them at an undercover house located in Northwest St. Johns County.

Between last Wednesday and Sunday, 17 men made plans, then traveled to the undercover home in an attempt to solicit sex from children between 8 and 15 years of age. Some were surprised to learn that none of those arrested are registered sex offenders or predators.

Once they arrived at the home, they were taken into custody by arrest teams at the front door.

Ten of those arrested traveled to St. Johns County from Duval County, two came from Georgia and one each came from Clay, Nassau, Volusia, Alachua and Osceola Counties. The criminals range in age from 20-55 years old and are facing 60 felony charges and three misdemeanor charges.

Multiple agencies participated in the operation under the auspices of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Those agencies included the Florida Attorney General Child Predator Cybercrime Unit, the F.B.I., the F.D.L.E., the Sheriff’s Offices of St. Johns, Alachua, Volusia, Clay and Citrus Counties and the Gainesville Police Department.

Most of those arrested brought condoms and some brought lubrication. One of the suspects brought three cucumbers and others brought candy after being requested.

Among the professions of the suspects arrested; one was a Nassau County middle school teacher, two were in the military, an Optician, a civil engineer, a janitor, a bank teller and a chef.

Detectives seized several vehicles as well as a computer and cell phones belonging to the men.

Those arrested, their charges and bonds are:

Robert Gazel Jones, 40, 11268 Hendon Dr., Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Ct. 3: Utilizing a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Bonds totaling $150,000.

Melvin Crosby, 27, 3488 Uphill Ter., Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Attempt sexual performance by a child (F)
Ct. 2: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 3: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Ct. 4: Use a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Bonds totaling $100,000

Christopher Lee Smith, 29, 2530 New York Ave., Waycross, Georgia
Ct. 1: Attempted capital sexual battery (F)
Ct. 2: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 3: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Ct. 4: Utilize a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Ct. 5: Protection of minors; prohibition of certain acts in connection w/ obscenity (F)
Bonds totaling $250,000

Christopher E. Logue, 26, Jacksonville (no photo, former DOC employee)
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Ct. 3: Utilize a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Ct. 4: Protection of minors; prohibition of certain acts in connection w/obscenity (F)
Bonds totaling $100,000

Brandon Meredith Hardy, 20, Moody AFB, Valdosta, Georgia
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Additional state and federal charges pending.
Released after posting $50,000 bond.

Francisco J. Nunez, 27, 7777 Normandy Blvd., Apt 804, Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a guardian (F)
Ct. 2: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 3: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure child (F)
Ct. 4: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure guard. (F)
Ct. 5: Protection of minors; prohibition of certain acts in connection w/obscenity (F)
Bonds totaling $125,000

Jimmy Santiago Jr., 28, 195 Dover Bluff Rd., Orange Park
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a guardian (F)
Ct. 2: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 3: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure child (F)
Ct. 4: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure guard. (F)
Ct. 5: Protection of minors; prohibition of certain acts in connection w/obscenity (F)
Bonds totaling $150,000

Donald Kim Stephens, 55, 7931 Austin Rd., Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Attempted capital sexual battery (F)
Ct. 2: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a guardian (F)
Ct. 3: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Ct. 4: Use a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Ct. 5: Protection of minors; prohibition of certain acts in connection w/obscenity (F)
Bonds totaling $125,000

Adam Michael Morris, 22, 1015 NW 21 Ave. #564, Gainesville
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a guardian (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Ct. 3: Use a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Bonds totaling $75,000

Joshua Michael Johnson, 29, 86018 Harrahs Pl., Yulee
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Released after posting $50,000 bond

Murtaza Ali Panjwani, 27, 13801 Beach Blvd., Apt. 306, Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a parent (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure parent (F)
Ct. 3: Utilize a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Ct. 4: Possession of marijuana less than 20 grams (M)
Ct. 5: Possession of drug paraphernalia (M)
Bonds totaling $76,000

Kenan Dumanjic, 24, 11043 Pierce Arrow Ct., Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure a child (F)
Ct. 3: Utilize a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Bonds totaling $75,000

Alvin Brian Smith, 25, 1417 E. Lombardy, Deltona
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce solicit/a guardian (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure guardian (F)
Ct. 3: Utilize a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Bonds totaling $75,000

Efrain Perez-Casanova, 23, 1414 Bass Slough Rd., Apt. 1350, Kissimmee
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure child (F)
Ct. 3: Utilize a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Ct. 4: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a guardian (F)
Ct. 5: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure guard. (F)
Ct. 6: Operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license
Bonds totaling $125,200

Sui Law, 20, 2750 Coachman Lakes Dr., Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a child (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure child (F)
Ct. 3: Utilize a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Bonds totaling $75,000

Benjamin C. Harrison, 39, 1700 San Pablo Rd. South Apt. 307, Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a guardian (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use compute to lure guard. (F)
Ct. 3: Utilize a two way device to facilitate a felony (F)
Bonds totaling $75,000

Ronald D. Thompson, 47, 4900 Eulace Rd., Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Use computer service to seduce/solicit a guardian (F)
Ct. 2: Obscene communication travel to meet after use computer to lure guard. (F)
Bonds totaling $50,000

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by SJSO