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First Coast News recently gained unique access to an undercover sting operation in Nassau County, offering a rare glimpse into how law enforcement targets and apprehends online predators who attempt to exploit children.
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla — In an unprecedented move, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office allowed First Coast News to observe their detectives in action as they tracked down individuals accused of seeking sexual encounters with minors. Sheriff Bill Leeper, unreserved in his condemnation, referred to these online predators as “scum bags.”
This exclusive series delves deeper than just the moment of arrest. Over the course of four installments, starting with this one, First Coast News will explore the tactics predators employ to manipulate children: the grooming techniques, the deceitful narratives, and the ways they gain the trust of even the youngest victims.
Captured in the sting operation footage, suspects often feign ignorance upon their arrest, with one individual questioning deputies, “Can I ask what’s going on?”
Inside the Sting: Operation Stuffed Animals
Detective Charlie Lucas described the nature of these communications as “very filthy” and “nasty,” highlighting the explicit dialogue predators initiate with those they believe to be 14-year-old girls.
Unbeknownst to the suspects, they were engaging online with seasoned undercover detectives from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. “These perverts know Nassau County is putting its foot down,” asserted Captain Charlie Lucas, emphasizing the county’s commitment to combating these heinous crimes.
In reality, they were talking online with trained undercover detectives inside the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. “These perverts know Nassau County is putting its foot down,” Captain Charlie Lucas said.
The suspects arrested come from across the country; Florida, Georgia, even Wyoming. Detective Josh Carter says these men will go to extreme lengths to meet with a child.
We’ve had them get bus tickets, fly … We’ve had them Uber,” Carter said.
The sting runs out of a secure room in the sheriff’s office, where multiple agencies collaborate, including the FBI, Homeland Security, FDLE, NCIS, and local ones from St. Johns County, Lake City, Clay County and more.
Undercover investigators are called “chatters.” When a man agrees to meet a minor for sex, officers move in quickly and arrest him.
Outside the jail, First Coast News reporter Jeannie Blaylock saw the men brought in almost immediately after takedowns.
For three days, investigators carried out arrests, escorting suspects in handcuffs into custody.
The operation was called Operation Stuffed Animals, a name chosen to remind the public that the victims are innocent children.
Targeted on Roblox
Detective Josh Carter and Captain Charlie Lucas warn that even young children are vulnerable.
Roblox — a gaming platform with more than 150 million daily players — can be harmless fun. But for one young elementary school girl on the First Coast, it became the starting point for a devastating crime.
“I will tell you this … 21 years of police work, most of my career dedicated to the safety of children,” said Detective Carter, “And the stuff that this person did to this little girl was so vulgar, so terrible, that I can tell you as an experienced investigator I had to vomit in the garbage can.”
The man responsible was Charles Leonard, now 21. According to court records, Leonard pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.
A federal judge signed his sentencing order on Sept. 30, 2025: 15 years in prison.
The victim was extremely young when the predator discovered her on Roblox. “This little girl only had a phone for two days,” Carter said.
“Roblox is a playground for predators, in my opinion.”
Leonard then coached the child to move their communication to Snapchat.
The arrest warrant reveals disturbing messages:
• He wrote: “HAIIII — IT’S ME BABY”
• He told her he wanted to “play a game” with her and asked if she had a “banana”
• He instructed her to perform sexual acts, including with a “toothbrush” and even with with the family dog
The warrant details are far beyond horrifying.
And investigators discovered he targeted many children. Detective Carter said they identified “over 430 other victims,” all of whom were minors.
“They were between four and sixteen or so”
How could this happen to such young children? Carter explains that “It’s very, very easy to do with someone who’s super young.”
How do you protect your children?
Whether your kids are little or in high school, predators target all ages — online and in person.
In this series, you’ll meet a local mom who took drastic action after discovering what was hidden inside her child’s phone. It looked like a calculator app, but it wasn’t. She ended up destroying the phone with a hammer.
Coming up next in the series
What about the new security rules for Roblox that promise better protection for kids? Will they actually help?
That’s coming up this week in CHILD SEX PREDATORS on First Coast News.
