HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) – A large undercover operation in Hillsborough County has led to 89 arrests of people authorities say sought to sexually exploit children and purchase sex, resulting in more than 1,200 felony charges.
Those arrested include a high school teacher and another suspect already on house arrest, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff’s office’s Human Trafficking Section and Internet Predator Unit conducted coordinated undercover operations in January and early February targeting suspects they believed were trying to exploit children.
Suspects were allegedly communicating with underage victims and arrived at a location expecting to pay for sex. Instead, they were met by undercover detectives.
In several cases, the suspects had negotiated prices and logistics with someone they believed was willing to sell a child, the sheriff’s office said.
“In every instance, they were communicating with law enforcement and arranging their own arrest,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister in a news release.
Among those arrested was Stephen Fabic, 41, a math teacher at Hillsborough High School, the release said.
Fabic allegedly offered to pick up a teenager and bring them to his home to engage in sexual activity during conversations with someone he believed to be a minor.
In another case, deputies say John Altieri, 69, while unknowingly communicating with detectives, arranged for a ride share to pick up a juvenile from their home and bring them to his home to perform sexual acts.
At the time, Altieri was serving home confinement while on probation in Hernando County for drug offenses.
The Internet Predator Unit said it also received a cyber tip involving the sexual exploitation of a sleeping 2-year-old child. Peter Torres, 42, was identified and arrested, and the child was safely recovered.
In a separate case, Human Trafficking detectives located a missing 17-year-old girl being exploited for commercial sex. She was safely rescued, and her trafficker, Armani Hopkins, 23, was arrested and charged.
Selah Freedom and One More Child provided victim support services. Additional assistance was provided by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Florida Department of Corrections (Probation and Parole).
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