State agents say a 26-year-old Port St. Lucie man was arrested after he allegedly drove across Central Florida to meet a juvenile for sex. Jordan Castillo was taken into custody after a joint investigation that began with a federal tip and culminated in his arrest at work in Okeechobee, according to state officials.
Investigation and arrest
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the case began when Homeland Security Investigations flagged an encounter that led agents to chat logs between Castillo and a female juvenile. Investigators say Castillo chatted with the victim on a chat application and then traveled to Polk County to meet her.
FDLE agents obtained an arrest warrant on May 22 and, four days later, on May 26, arrested Castillo at his place of employment in Okeechobee. He was booked into the Okeechobee County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Polk County for prosecution. FDLE has not released the juvenile’s identity or the name of the chat platform, citing the ongoing investigation.
Charges and prosecution
Per the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Castillo faces three second-degree felony charges: one count of traveling to meet a minor for sex, one count of unlawful use of a computer to solicit sex from a child, and one count of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors. He remains in custody in Okeechobee County as he awaits transfer back to Polk County.
The FDLE release states the case will be prosecuted by Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. Agents say the investigation is still active as they continue gathering evidence.
What the law says
Florida Statutes §847.0135 criminalizes traveling to meet a minor after using a computer to solicit a child and classifies the offense as a second-degree felony. The text of the law is available through Justia.
Under Florida Statutes §775.082, a second-degree felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years, although any actual sentence is up to the court and depends on the specific facts of the case and any applicable enhancements. The statute can be read in full via the Florida Senate.
Local context: a wider enforcement push
The arrest lands in the middle of a broader crackdown on alleged child predators across Central Florida, particularly those using apps and online platforms to arrange meetups. Recent undercover operations in Polk County and Martin County have produced multiple arrests, underscoring how local and federal agencies are teaming up to disrupt alleged attempts to meet minors arranged online.
Those efforts have included cases such as a Polk County “Santa” busted in a child sex sting and a Martin County operation where Chris Hansen rides shotgun on an undercover takedown.
FDLE says Castillo’s case is still open and asks anyone with information to contact its Office of Public Information at [email protected].
