Operation 'Rip Current' in Northeast Florida ends with 9 arrests

Jacksonville, FL — It was known as Operation 'Rip Current.'

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office says a four-day undercover operation netted 8 arrests, with all the suspects accused of using the Internet to try to meet children.

According to deputies, the operation involved undercover detectives and agents posing as children online.

According to the sheriff's office, investigators were contacted by numerous people and exposed to graphic and disturbing content, with many of the people 'aggressively' requesting to meet in person.

A 9th suspect, who is a registered sex offender, has since been arrested in connection to this operation.

Operation 'Rip Current' was led by St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children detectives, but it also involved a long list of other agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, FDLE, and a number of local sheriff's offices and police departments around Northeast Florida.

The sheriff's office says this is the 5th time in the past 7 years they've done an undercover operation using the Internet, with the total number of arrests stemming from those operations at 75.

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office has released the following list of suspects, as well as the charges they now face:

Curtis Duggan, 59, Live Oak

Ct. 1: Use a computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F)

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F)

Bonds totaling $100,000

Habiel  Carrasco, 28, Jacksonville 

Ct. 1: Use a computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2 Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F)

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F)

Bonds totaling $60,000

Gary Hickey Jr., 31, St. Augustine 

Ct. 1: Use a computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F)

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F)

Ct. 4: Transmission of harmful material to a minor (F)

Ct. 5: Attempting to promote a sexual performance of a child (F)

Bonds totaling $65,000

Matthew Tatge, 22, Palm Coast

Ct. 1: Use a computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F)

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F) Bonds totaling $45,000

Joshua Solana, 23, St. Augustine 

Ct. 1: Use a computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2 Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F)

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F)

Ct. 4: Transmit info harmful to minors

Bonds totaling $20,000

Richard Roberts, 46, Daytona Beach 

Ct. 1: Use a computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F)

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F)

Bonds totaling $15,000

Nicholas Jewel, 22, Jacksonville 

Ct. 1: Use a computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F)

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F)

Bonds totaling $15,000

Ronald Stafford II, 26, Homeless 

Ct. 1: Use computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F)

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F)

Ct. 4: Direct promote sexual performance by a child (F)

Bonds totaling $20,000

Kenneth Brian Hanger, 46, St. Augustine

Ct. 1: Use computer to solicit, seduce, or lure a child for sex (F)

Ct. 2: Transmission of harmful material to a minor

Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F)

Ct. 4: Promote sexual performance by a child (F)

Hangar is a registered Sex Offender who was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault in Bradford, Pennsylvania over 23 years ago. He was also arrested on November 1, 2017 on a charge of violating the sexual offender and predator holiday activity ordinance on Halloween.

Bonds totaling $25,000