The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with local, state, and federal agencies arrested 30+ offenders during Operation Safe Passage and Operation Unified Watch.
Operation Safe Passage (September 17-20) is an undercover operation targeting subjects who use the internet to prey on children. Detectives posed as children on popular websites and social media platforms and engaged in conversations. In some conversations, predators lied about their own ages, asked for photos and videos of a child, and even offered to pay for prostitution. The predators traveled from surrounding areas including St. Johns, Duval, Clay, and Volusia counties to meet a child but were quickly taken into custody by law enforcement. During the four-day operation, 17 arrests were made:
Edwin Carlos, 20
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Brandoll Diaz Martinez, 26
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
No Driver’s License
Note: Martinez is an undocumented immigrant.
Bradley Taguiam, 37
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Tampering with Physical Evidence
Jack Sibery, 19
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Possession of less than 20 g of cannabis
Dwayne Ferron, 41
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Terrence Owens, 32
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Armed in the Commission of a Felony
Human Trafficking
Note: Owens was a civilian employee with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Justin Ward, 37
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Driving While License is Suspended or Revoked
Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor
Resisting Law Enforcement Officer without Violence
Michael Hill, 45
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device Sexual Conduct Using a Computer
Attempted L&L Battery
Tampering with Physical Evidence
Soliciting a Person Believed to be a Child for Unlawful
Note: Hill was arrested during JSOs Chat Operation Valiant Night in 2024.
Daniel Gozo, 29
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Kyle Markey, 35
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Harold Hair, 58
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Misrepresentation of Age to Solicit a Minor
Resisting without Violence
Elvis Nyakundi, 22
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Human Trafficking Victim Less Than 18
Note: Nyakundi is active-duty Navy Sailor
Kevin Gandy, 31
Charges: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Robert Wright, 32
Charges: Use Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child Misrepresent Age
934.215 Illegal Use of Two-Way Communication Device
Tony Tran, 26
Use Computer to Seduce/Solicit Lure Child Misrepresent Age
Illegal Use of Two-Way Communication Device
Deashon Johnson, 26
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Transmit Information Harmful to Minors
Use Computer to Seduce /Solicit Lure Child Misrepresent Age
Mark West, 70
Charges: Soliciting a parent for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor or a Person Believed to be a Child.
Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Operation Safe Passage was in partnership with St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Port Orange Police Department, North Florida ICAC Task Force, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney’s Office 7th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Lake City Police Department, and Intercept Task Force.
Operation Unified Watch (September 22-25) is a compliance operation focusing on registered sexual offenders and predators in St. Johns County. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, in partnership with the St. Augustine Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida Department of Corrections contacted 249 registered sex offenders and predators to ensure these individuals are complying with all laws, local ordinances, and supervision conditions associated with their status. 19 arrests were made for violations including Failure to Register Vehicle Information, Providing False Registration Information, Failure to Comply with Registration Laws, Failure to Report Email Address Internet Identifiers, and Failure to Maintain an Identification Card as Required. Arrested:
Bradley Ayres, 52
Harold Bing, 67
Taysha Boone, 34
Rowland Bryant, 68
William Davis, 30
Randy Gadson, 64
Carl Graham, 36
John Leon Guerrero, 68
Donald Haley, 52
Larry Hall, 46
Ryan Hartley, 43
Christopher King, 54
John Murwin, 51
Frank O’Neill, 62
John Osgood, 62
Douglas Rice, 60
Cleon Scott, 43
Justin Sullivan, 38
Nathan Zani, 59
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has 36 outstanding warrants and expects more arrests soon because of Operation Unified Watch.
“I am proud of the men and women of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and our partner agencies for their phenomenal work during this operation. This should send a strong message to offenders – regardless of borders, we will do everything in our power to protect children and hold you accountable. Parents and guardians please be involved in your children’s lives, monitor their online activities and set boundaries for cell phone usage. We all have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our community. If you see something, say something,” St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick said.