Lake City, FL – Detectives with the Lake City Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit arrested two men over the past two days following an undercover operation aimed at identifying individuals seeking to sexually exploit minors online.
The operation, conducted on Monday, February 9, 2026, involved detectives posing as teenage girls on popular online platforms. Multiple suspects initiated sexually explicit conversations and arranged in-person meetings for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with what they believed were underage girls.
The first arrest occurred Monday when 25-year-old Joseph Dean Anderson of Chiefland traveled from his residence to a pre-arranged location in Lake City. Detectives had confirmed Anderson’s intent through explicit online communications and his travel arrangements. He was taken into custody without incident upon arrival and transported to the Columbia County Detention Center.
A second suspect, 38-year-old Robert Eugene Smith of Fort White, was arrested Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Investigators say Smith engaged in sexually explicit conversations with an undercover detective and sent explicit photographs during the exchanges. Further investigation revealed that Smith is currently serving felony probation for Driving While License Suspended. He was also transported to the Columbia County Detention Center following his arrest.
“Operations like this allow us to intervene before a child is harmed,” said Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler. “Our detectives remain committed to identifying offenders and holding them accountable for attempting to exploit children.”
The Lake City Police Department conducted the operation in partnership with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Authorities emphasized that proactive efforts to identify, investigate, and arrest individuals involved in online child exploitation will continue.
Anyone with information about this case or any other suspected crime is encouraged to contact the Lake City Police Department at (386) 752-4343. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the LCPD TIPS line at (386) 719-2068 or Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at (386) 754-7099.
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