LEE COUNTY, Fla.- A statewide initiative targeting online sexual predators found its way to Lee County over the previous seven days resulting in forty (40) arrests. The Lee County Sheriff's Office Sex Crimes Unit along with the FBI Innocent Images Task Force, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney's Office of 20th Judicial Circuit and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security participated in the sting which was named Operation SPIDERWEB.

Each day beginning Monday, October 22, approximately forty deputies, detectives and agents worked collaboratively to identify and arrest the accused adults who range in age from 18 to 50. The suspects communicated via social networking with plans to meet and commit sex acts with children anywhere from ages 11 to 15. While the majority of the accused reside in Lee County, others came from as far away as the Fort Lauderdale area and Sarasota. Those charged were from all walks of life including college students, retirees and respected professions.

The operation took 5 months preparation and utilized a home in Lee County where the arrests took place. A few of the felons arrived in possession of illegal narcotics and were additionally charged. At least one subject was determined to be in the U.S. illegally and two others were being reviewed by ICE.

"Those trying to prey on our children are served notice today that we will not tolerate this illegal activity," said Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott. "We cannot be idle in this task. Parents, I urge you to recognize the threat exists and be sure you have lines of communication open with your children and monitor their social networking activity."

The following have been charged in connection with Operation SPIDERWEB:

Shawn Michael Strickler, age 28, from Fort Myers

Scott Anthony Owen, age 19, from Tampa

Alain Guevara, age 28, from Lehigh Acres

Eric Wade Osborn, age 21, from Cape Coral

Zachary Robert Vaughan, age 23, from Greenville, SC

Zachary Michael Crane, age 20, from Fort Myers

James Richard Jensen, age 31, from Fort Myers

Douglas Allen Sund, age 50, from Fort Myers

Dustin Michael England, age 24, from North Port

Robert Zachary Thomas, age 21, from Fort Myers

Luis Anibal Montalvan Pagoada, age 24, from Naples

Christoper John Chepelevich, age 43, Cape Coral

Donald Douglas Markmiller, age 39, from Bradenton

Dustin Michael Lohr, age 31, from Fort Myers

Daniel Cuevas-Medrano, age 24, from Coral Springs

Mark Andrew Mongelut Jr., age 22, from Punta Gorda

Carlos Anier Santoveina, age 27, from Lehigh Acres

Jacob Thomas Duvall, age 19, from Neptune Beach

Isaiah Matthew Jones, age 23, from Lehigh Acres

Jarred Ryan Stuermer, age 21, from Sarasota

Jordon Scott Peters, age 18, from Lehigh Acres

Matthew James Drake, age 24, from Cape Coral

Javon Eugene Safford, age 21, from Fort Myers

Eugene Martinez, age 27, from North Fort Myers

Vincent Lamar Williams Jr., age 21, from Lehigh Acres

Kelsey Lamonte Thompson, age 36, from Cape Coral

Daniel Luis Villanueva, age 24, from Fort Myers

Gary Russell Sandt, age 51, from Cape Coral

Gary Alan Hall, age 58, from Cape Coral

Michael Allen Miner, age 24, from Sarasota

John Woen-That Yang, age 22, from Fort Myers

Roderic Eugene Pulley, age 22, from Fort Myers

Darin Charles Leishure, age 42, from Lehigh Acres

Harley Thomas Brien, age 20, from Fort Myers

Christian Pimentel, age 20, from Fort Myers

Michael Vincent Sansone, age 39, from Cape Coral

Tybias Deshawn Dickerson, age 31, from Fort Myers

William Ross Nockengost Jr., age 42, from Cape Coral

Martin Rodolfo Gallardo-Fernandez, age 35, from Fort Myers

Mark George Clark, age 37, from Naples