AG Uthmeier Sting Nabs 16 Child Predators, Disney Worker, Bus Driver | The Locally Times
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced 16 arrests in a four-day Central Florida sting targeting online child predators, including a Disney employee and a Volusia County school bus driver, preventing potential harm to children.
Florida authorities have taken 16 alleged child predators off the streets following a four-day Central Florida sting operation, Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed this week. Conducted from March 18-21, 2026, the undercover operation targeted individuals using chatrooms and escort websites to exploit children online. These arrests come on the heels of new legislation signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, designed to strengthen child protections and increase penalties for sexual offenses. Led by the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the operation involved collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Lake City Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, and the St. Cloud Police Department. ## Undercover Operation Details The undercover operation focused on individuals sexually exploiting children online. Attorney General’s office records detail how each defendant engaged in sexually explicit and harmful communications with undercover officers. These exchanges continued even after defendants were explicitly told they were communicating with individuals identified as 13-, 14-, or 15-year-old children. Following these conversations, the defendants made plans to meet for sexual activity. Fifteen individuals were arrested upon arrival at the agreed-upon meeting locations, believing they would meet children. The 16th individual was arrested for engaging in harmful and explicit conversation with the perceived victim. ## Profiles of Arrested Individuals Among those arrested in the Central Florida sting were individuals with direct access to children in their daily lives. Attorney General Uthmeier's April 1, 2026 announcement revealed disturbing details: Sheldon Lee reportedly left four young children unattended in a hotel room to visit a strip club before attempting to meet his perceived victim. Naman Kanthwal, a green card holder from India, was arrested while intending to meet and assault a 14-year-old girl. Records further identify Sroas Tes as a Disney employee and Michael Cornell as a Volusia County school bus driver, both apprehended in the operation. The Attorney General's office detailed charges for two individuals: Luis Colon-Serrano, 37, faces charges including Travel to Meet a Child, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device, Harmful Explicit Communication to a Minor, Criminal Solicitation, and Lewd and Lascivious Battery. James Macrae, 19, faces charges including Travel to Meet a Child, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device, Harmful Explicit Communication to a Minor, and Lewd and L, with the full charge description truncated in the provided record. Specific charges for the remaining 14 arrested individuals are not fully detailed in available records. ## Legislative Response to Child Exploitation These arrests align with recent legislative action designed to bolster child protections across Florida. Both bills aim to enhance penalties for sexual offenses and ensure accountability for dangerous offenders. House Bill 445 strengthens Florida’s pretrial detention system for specified dangerous crimes. It expands the statutory list of dangerous crimes to include certain computer pornography and child exploitation offenses, ensuring individuals arrested for these crimes are not automatically released at their first appearance. The legislation further mandates that those found guilty of or entering a plea for a dangerous crime will be immediately remanded into custody and held without bond while awaiting sentencing. Attorney General James Uthmeier supported Missy's Law, emphasizing its intent to remove judicial discretion and keep dangerous criminals incarcerated after conviction. House Bill 1159 enhances penalties and expands criminal offenses related to child sexual abuse material. This legislation increases penalties for using a child in a sexual performance, possessing and distributing abusive material, and creating generated sexual abuse material. It establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain adult offenses and creates a life felony for the aggravated exploitation of a child under 12. The bill also addresses emerging threats by criminalizing new forms of exploitation involving generated content. ## Broader Impact and Ongoing Efforts The coordinated sting operation and the new legislation underscore a comprehensive statewide effort to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable populations. The Attorney General's office affirmed that the operation's success has removed dangerous predators from the streets, fostering safer communities for children. Effective March 31, 2026, the legislative changes provide law enforcement and prosecutors with additional tools to pursue and penalize those who seek to harm children, both online and offline. These efforts build upon previous actions by the Governor's administration, including increased penalties for child exploitation crimes, strengthened sexual offender registration and monitoring requirements, and support for online sting operations. The Attorney General's office and collaborating agencies continue to prioritize proactive measures to identify and apprehend individuals involved in child exploitation. ## Key Questions **What was the focus of the Central Florida sting operation?** The operation targeted individuals who were sexually exploiting children online through chatrooms and escort websites, arresting 16 individuals who communicated with and planned to meet perceived minors. **How do the new laws affect child predator cases?** House Bill 445 strengthens pretrial detention for child exploitation offenses, ensuring individuals are held without bond after conviction. House Bill 1159 increases penalties for various child sexual abuse material offenses and criminalizes new forms of exploitation, including generated content.