JACKSONVILLE, FL — Twenty-nine men are facing criminal charges in Northeast Florida after a five-day undercover sting operation targeted individuals attempting to use internet applications to solicit and lure minors for sexual encounters.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) announced the results of Operation Checkmate on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The proactive crackdown, led by JSO’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, took place over five days beginning in late April and resulted in nearly three dozen suspects being identified, with additional arrest warrants actively outstanding.
Tactical Takedowns by SWAT and Narcotics Units
During the operation, undercover cyber-crimes detectives posed online as young teenagers across various digital platforms. The detectives engaged in text-based conversations with adult users who explicitly solicited the purported minors for sex acts and committed to meeting them face-to-face.
Investigative teams established pre-arranged meeting coordinates at retail and public locations across the Jacksonville metropolitan area. Instead of encountering a minor upon arrival, suspects were immediately intercepted and detained by tactical units, including the JSO Narcotics Unit and the JSO SWAT Team.
According to police officials, the apprehended individuals represent a wide array of backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and occupations. Among those taken into custody was a suspect who managed security operations for prominent local entertainment venues, including the city’s stadium and sports arena, as well as an active youth athletics coach.
“The men we arrested come from different backgrounds,” the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office noted in a public brief. “They are husbands, boyfriends, fathers, and brothers.”
Outstanding Warrants Remain Active
JSO verified that the investigation remains fluid and ongoing. While 29 suspects have been processed into the pretrial detention facility, digital evidence teams continue to review chat logs and forensic data. Detectives have already secured multiple additional arrest warrants for outstanding suspects who participated in the illicit chats but evaded immediate pickup.
The multi-agency operation relied heavily on regional law enforcement partnerships and was executed with technological and resource support from Operation Lightshine, a specialized non-profit organization dedicated to combating child exploitation and human trafficking.
Digital Safety Warnings Issued to Families
Following the mass arrests, law enforcement personnel issued a direct warning to parents regarding the pervasive nature of digital predators. Authorities emphasized that standard parental control applications are often insufficient, as offenders actively target platforms and mobile sites marketed directly to children.
“Parents, we can’t stress this enough: be aware of who your child is talking to online,” JSO officials cautioned. “Even when a site is marketed towards children, that doesn’t mean predators like these men aren’t waiting to take advantage of them.”
The following individuals have been arrested and formally charged as a result of the operation:
- Billy East, 35
- Clifford Skaggs, 72
- Derrick Wilcox, 22
- Donald Seymore, 42
- Dustin Heffner, 37
- Elias Martinez Guerra, 30
- Giuseppe Gilbert, 23
- Jacob Futch, 29
- Jaime Castellanos Marin, 42
- Jason Gaines, 41
- Javier Isidro Mendez, 31
- Jay Kennedy, 28
- Jean Auguste, 45
- Jeremy Johnson, 33
- John Mullins, 61
- Leon Hicks, 43
- Mark Sullivan, 59
- Mikal Detoro, 44
- Nasib Amin, 23
- Nathan Ramirez, 29
- Quentin Quarterman, 28
- Rodcliff Wilson, 33
- Samuel Pinheiro, 35
- Sean Smith, 48
- Stephen Sheehan, 34
- Terry Rivers, 34
- Zachary Bradley, 25
- Zachary Stitz, 39
Anyone possessing information regarding individuals attempting to exploit minors online is urged to submit an official report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via CyberTipline.org or by calling the hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678).