The operation resulted in a combined total of 1,217 felonies among the 89 people arrested.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla — A Hillsborough County high school teacher is among 89 suspects arrested in a human trafficking operation that resulted in over 1,200 felony charges, officials announced.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says its Human Trafficking Section and Internet Predator Unit conducted coordinated undercover operations between Jan. 1 and Feb. 6, targeting those seeking to exploit children.
Deputies said all 89 suspects believed they were communicating with minors and would meet somewhere, expecting to pay for sex. Some instances reportedly involved negotiating prices and logistics with someone they believed was willing to sell a child.
“In every instance, they were communicating with law enforcement and arranging their own arrest,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement.
When they would arrive at their meetup point, they would be met by undercover detectives.
Among those arrested was 41-year-old Stephen Fabic, a math teacher at Hillsborough High School.
HCSO said Fabic offered to pick up a teenager and bring them to his home to engage in sexual activity during conversations with someone he thought was a minor.
Officials with the Hillsborough County School District confirmed he is no longer an employee after being terminated in February following his arrest. He had been with Hillsborough High School since September.
Others highlighted in this case include 69-year-old John Altieri, who reportedly arranged a rideshare to pick up a minor from their home and bring them to his.
At the time, Altieri was serving home confinement while on probation in Hernando County for two counts of possession of a controlled substance, the sheriff’s office said.
A warrant was obtained for Altieri’s arrest, and he was taken into custody by the Florida Department of Corrections and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Another man, 42-year-old Petter Torres, was arrested after investigators received a tip that he was involved in sexually exploiting a sleeping 2-year-old child. The child was safely recovered.
Deputies also discussed the arrest of 23-year-old Armani Hopkins, who they say trafficked a missing 17-year-old girl for commercial sex.
Of the 89 arrests, the operation resulted in a combined total of 1,217 felonies.
“If you are using a hotel room, a chat app, or a fake profile to pursue a child, we are there,” Chronister said. “Our detectives will follow the digital trail all the way to your door.”
Victims in this operation are receiving support service assistance, including from Selah Freedom, One More Child, the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Corrections.
Certain cases in this investigation are still active.