17Jul
A three-day undercover child exploitation operation in Central Florida ended with the arrests of seven men accused of traveling to meet minors for sex, but one suspect has drawn particular attention because of his long-standing role working with children in organized sports.
The Volusia Sheriff's Office announced that Operation Tor/Pedo ran from July 9 through July 11, targeting adults who investigators say used social media platforms, messaging apps, and the internet to communicate with children for sexual purposes before arranging in person meetings.
The investigation was conducted with assistance from the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and several local police departments.
Among those arrested was Robert James "Coach Rosco" Rece, 38, of DeLeon Springs, identified by investigators as the head of Volusia Lacrosse, also known as the Volusia Renegades, a co-ed youth lacrosse league serving children and teenagers throughout the area.
According to authorities, Rece traveled to a gas station in Deltona believing he was meeting a 14-year-old child he had contacted online. Instead, investigators were waiting for him.
Publicly reported arrest records allege that Rece initiated contact with the undercover through a social media application before moving the conversation to text messages and phone calls. Investigators say he acknowledged the purported victim's age during the exchanges, allegedly stating that "14 is too young" and referring to the child as "jail bait."
Authorities further allege that he continued discussing explicit sexual acts, agreed to pay $100 for sex, and arranged the meeting despite knowing the supposed age of the child. After his arrest, investigators say Rece admitted he initiated the conversations, knew the age he had been told, and described his actions as a bad choice.
Body Camera Video Fuels Public Scrutiny
The Volusia Sheriff's Office has released body camera footage from Rece's arrest, adding to the public attention surrounding the case.
Local television stations have devoted significant coverage to the allegations because Rece's volunteer leadership role placed him in direct contact with young athletes and their families. As of the latest reports, Volusia Lacrosse has not issued a public statement addressing his arrest.
While all seven suspects face the same charges of traveling to meet a minor, using a computer or internet service to solicit a minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, Rece's case has drawn much of the spotlight because of the trust placed in youth coaches and mentors.
It is important to note that these are allegations, and the charges have not been proven in court.
Seven Suspects Charged Following Three-Day Sting
Source: Volusia County Sheriff's Office/Facebook.
The remaining suspects identified by the sheriff's office are 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; and Temur Khujabekov, 31, of Orlando, who investigators said was in the United States on a tourist visa from Uzbekistan.
Authorities say each traveled to Volusia County intending to meet someone they believed was a minor after online communications.
Law enforcement officials said Operation Tor/Pedo was designed to identify adults attempting to exploit children before any real child could be harmed. Seven arrests within just three days underscores a persistent problem and the growing role that undercover cyber investigations now play in combating online child exploitation.
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