Disney Employee, Contractor Among 13 Men Arrested in Child Sex Sting Operation: Polk County Sheriff
POLK COUNTY (FLV) – 13 men have been arrested after a week long undercover operation called “Operation Cyber Guardian II,” where detectives posed as children on social media platforms, mobile apps, and online dating sites to investigate those who prey upon and travel to meet children for unlawful sexual activity, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say eight of the men showed up at an undercover location in Polk County at separate times to meet who they thought were children, to allegedly sexually batter them and warrants were obtained for five other suspects who were arrested and booked into jails across Florida.
Three of the men are reported to have said they thought they were speaking with a parent or guardian of a child who wanted to teach their “child” to have sex or arranging for the minor to have sex with the suspect.
Among those arrested include Disney employee, 42-year-old Kevin Sanders of Winter Garden, Publix employee, 33-year-old Matthew Silva of Melbourne, and a construction subcontractor, 28-year-old Joshua Cummins of Davenport, who told police he was currently building a new rollercoaster at Disney.
Police report two of the men told detectives they were married, two brought condoms, and two brought illegal drugs.
The 13 suspects face a total of 41 felony and 3 misdemeanor charges which include traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted lewd battery, use of a computer to seduce a child, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and transmission of material harmful to a child.
In order of arrest:
- 25-year-old Andrew Lewis of Orlando
- 46-year-old Matthew Bonjean of Hemet, CA
- 27-year-old Nicholas Jenkins of Winter Garden
- 39-year-old John DeSarli, Jr. of Venice, FL
- 52-year-old John Wesley Hunter of Davenport
- 35-year-old Juan Miguel Diaz of Kissimmee
- 39-year-old Juan Carlos Guzman of Hollywood, FL
- 28-year-old Joshua Cummins of Davenport
- 31-year-old Neri Banda of Lakeland
- 28-year-old Michael Hojewski III of Lakeland
- 30-year-old Luis Velazquez of Haines City
- 42-year-old Kevin Sanders of Winter Garden
- 33-year-old Matthew Silva of Melbourne
