First Coast News has been granted exclusive access to a covert operation in Nassau County, providing a rare glimpse into how authorities tackle online predators targeting children and the methods used to apprehend them.
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla — In an unprecedented move, the Nassau County Sheriff allowed our team to observe as detectives pursued individuals accused of attempting to meet minors for illicit purposes. Sheriff Bill Leeper pulls no punches in describing these online predators, labeling them as “scum bags.”
This investigative series delves deeper than just the arrests. Over the course of four installments, starting with this one, First Coast News will explore the tactics employed by these predators: from grooming and deception to gaining the trust of children, even those who are very young.
Footage from recent sting operations reveals suspects frequently feigning ignorance about their situation, with one individual naively questioning deputies, “Can I ask what’s going on?”
Inside the Sting: Operation Stuffed Animals
Detective Charlie Lucas, involved in these operations, describes the conversations as “very filthy” and “nasty,” noting that these men believe they are communicating with 14-year-old girls.
Unbeknownst to them, they are actually interacting with skilled undercover detectives from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. “These perverts know Nassau County is putting its foot down,” asserted Captain Charlie Lucas, reinforcing the county’s commitment to tackling this issue head-on.
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.
