JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced Thursday the arrests of 24 men, including an active duty Navy sailor and a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office employee, following a multi-agency operation targeting people attempting to sexually exploit children using the internet.

Waters said during “Operation Rescue Our Children,” undercover detectives chatted online with men who police said solicited sex acts with children. The men were between the ages of 21 and 61 and varied in race. 

All of the arrests were made in Jacksonville with the assistance of multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Waters noted the operation will likely lead to more arrests. 

The operation was conducted between May 13 and May 18. Waters said the suspects set up a prearranged location to meet who they believed were children, and were arrested once they arrived. 

Multiple suspects were in possession of firearms or illegal narcotics, Waters added.

“These predators were arrested for a combination of sexually-motivated felony crimes that carry significant criminal penalties,” Waters said.

The men were charged with multiple sex crimes involving children, including soliciting a child using a computer to engage in sexual activity and unlawful use of a 2-way device, both felonies.

Among the 24 arrested was Greg Bethel, who was employed with JSO as a civilian supply specialist at the time of his arrest. Bethel immediately resigned from his position and is no longer a JSO employee, Waters said.

“Bethel’s arrest shocks the conscience of this agency, and JSO is pleased to no longer count Bethel as an agency employee,” Waters said.

Ray Scarboro, 21, an active duty Navy sailor at Mayport, was also arrested during the operation for traveling to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old, with the intent of engaging in sexual activity, Waters said.

Kyle Judd, a registered sex offender, was also arrested during the operation. He was arrested in 2016 and convicted of sex crimes in 2017. Waters said he traveled with the intent of engaging in sexual conduct with a 13-year-old.

Waters described the undercover sting operation as “proactive.”

“This is stuff that we know takes place online and it’s disgusting, and I wish we could do this more, but we’re gonna do it as often as possible,” the sheriff said. “These people are targeting kids, young children in our communities. Victimizing our kids, and young children in our communities, and we just can’t stand for it, we’re not gonna stand for it.”

JSO was assisted by multiple agencies, including the State Attorney’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, The Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake City Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigation and the United States Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“The success of this operation exemplifies the strong law enforcement partnerships with out local, state and federal enforcement agencies here in Northeast Florida,” Waters said.