A co-ed youth lacrosse coach in Volusia County is among seven people arrested in a multi-agency undercover operation that authorities say targeted adults who tried to use apps and other online platforms to solicit minors. Investigators say 38-year-old Robert James Rosco of DeLeon Springs was taken into custody after driving to a Deltona gas station to meet someone he believed he had been communicating with online. The coordinated sting is being called Operation Tor/Pedo.
In all, seven people were arrested in Volusia County in the sweep: Colton James Gregory, 19, of Eustis; Brandon Pierre Rutledge, 35, of Altamonte Springs; Logan Banks, 32, of Madison, Tennessee; Dion Kendal Jackson, 31, of Daytona Beach; Felix Mendez II, 28, of Port Orange; Temur Khujabekov, 31, of Orlando; and Rosco. Prosecutors say each is facing counts that include traveling to meet a minor, using a computer or internet service to solicit a minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. The arrests and suspect details were first reported by CBS12.
How The Sting Worked
According to officials, undercover officers with regional Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and local police typically pose as minors online to identify adults who arrange in-person meetings. The ICAC program provides training and a nationwide network that helps agencies coordinate multi-jurisdictional investigations. That setup lets investigators choose controlled public meeting spots and make arrests before any real child is put in harm’s way, according to the ICAC Task Force Program.
Coach’s Role And Local Impact
Rosco coached with Volusia Lacrosse, a local youth program that relies on volunteer coaches, a detail that is likely to rattle parents and players who trusted adults on the sidelines. Authorities say he was arrested Saturday after arriving at a Deltona gas station where he believed he would meet a minor. The operation involved the North Florida ICAC Task Force, police departments from Port Orange, Daytona Beach and South Daytona, Homeland Security Investigations and the Office of the State Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit, CBS12 reported.
What Parents Should Know
Law enforcement and child-safety advocates urge parents to talk regularly with their children about online boundaries, keep an eye on direct messages and private chats, and report any suspicious contact to local police or the CyberTipline. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers guidance on safer online behavior, steps to remove explicit images and ways to report exploitation. Its 24-hour hotline is 1-800-843-5678. More resources are available from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Next Steps
All seven suspects are expected to move through the local court system and be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the 7th Judicial Circuit. Specific court dates were not immediately available. Authorities are asking anyone with additional information related to the operation or the suspects to contact the participating law enforcement agencies.
