On Monday, December 21, 2020, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office concluded a month-long special operation to identify members of the community who possessed and shared child pornography. The operation, called “Operation Guardians of the Innocence VI,” was carried out by undercover detectives from PCSO’s Computer Crimes Unit, and resulted in the arrests of 13 people. “We are committed to protecting our children from those who possess and distribute child pornography. The men arrested in this operation create a market for these kinds of horrific images that are dependent upon the continued sexual abuse and rape of babies and children worldwide. Each time these images and videos are uploaded and shared these children are victimized again and again. I appreciate the hard work our detectives did that was necessary to file these charges.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff The youngest person arrested was 20-years-old, while the oldest was 47-years-old. At the time of arrest, detectives seized all known electronic communications devices belonging to the suspects, with forensic searches of those devices to follow. Those searches could turn up additional images and/or videos depicting child pornography, and the suspects would be additionally charged as needed. Attempts are also made to identify the children in various images and videos. The 13 men arrested face a total of 2,353 charges (2,347 felonies, 6 misdemeanors). Those arrested are as follows (in alphabetical order): Shaun David Bonacci, 43, from Davenport. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Bonacci’s cell phone and located images of boys between the ages of 10 and 12-years old being sexually battered. Bonacci told detectives he emailed the photos to another unknown individual. He told detectives he is a former Air Force mechanic. Bonacci was charged with Promoting Child Pornography (F2) and Possession of Child Pornography (F3). Henry Dunn, 47, from Winter Haven. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Dunn’s electronic devices and located images and videos of children between the ages of 5 and 11-years old being sexually battered. Detectives also discovered child pornography images which Dunn had uploaded to Facebook. Dunn was charged with 40 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2), Promotion of Child Pornography (F2), Possession of Marijuana (M1), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1). Jonathan Godwin, 20, from Winter Haven. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Godwin’s electronic devices and located videos of children between the ages of 5 and 11-years old being sexually battered. Godwin told detectives he sometimes shared videos in chat groups on the KIK application. He was charged with 4 counts of Possession of Child Pornography (F3) and 1 count of Promotion of Child Pornography (F2). Silas Toussaint Harris, 27, from Lakeland. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Harris’s electronic devices and located hundreds of videos of children being sexually battered, some as young as 12-months old. Harris told detectives has viewed and shared child pornography on Twitter. Harris told detectives he works as a stockman for Walmart and is the assistant coach for the Lakeland Destroyers little league football team. He was charged with 662 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2). Christian Martinez-Rivera, 30, from Haines City. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Martinez-Rivera’s cell phone and located images of children between the ages of 3 and 6-years old being sexually battered. He told detectives he is employed as a FedEx driver. Martinez-Rivera was charged with 2 counts of Possession of Child Pornography (F3). Clifford Wayne Rogers, 40, from Bartow. While executing a search warrant at Rogers’ residence, detectives located a tablet that contained 212 images of children being sexually battered, some as young as 1 to 3-years old. Detectives also located marijuana in Rogers’ vehicle. He told detectives he was employed with Payne Heating and Cooling as a service technician. He was charged with 212 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2), Possession of Marijuana (M1), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1). His criminal history includes a DUI and Bomb Threat. Robert Thomas Schank, 47, from Davenport. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Schank’s electronic devices and located videos of children as young as 2-years old being sexually battered. Schank told detectives he had shared these videos in chat groups on the KIK application. Schank told detectives he is the manager of a Bed Bath and Beyond store in Kissimmee. He was charged with 36 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2). Eugene Skaggs, Jr., 28, from Polk City. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Skaggs’ residence and seized 2 cell phones, two computers, a tablet, two smart watches, and storage devices. During an interview, Skaggs told detectives that he started to look at child pornography out of curiosity, and then he started sharing and trading images and videos of children as young as 12-months old being sexually battered. He also told detectives he is employed with Watson Clinic. Skaggs is charged with Promotion of Child Pornography (F2), Possession of Marijuana (M1), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1). Michael Tateishi, 47, from Lakeland. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Tateshi’s electronic devices and located hundreds of pornographic (or nude) videos and images of children as young as 8-12 months old. Tateshi told detectives he is employed as an UBER driver, and is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. He was charged with 450 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2), Possession of Cocaine (F3), Possession of a Structure to Manufacture Drugs (F2), Cultivation of Marijuana (F3), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1). Joquin Trejo, 44, from Bartow. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Trejo’s cell phone and located images and video files of children as young as 3-months old being sexually battered. He told detectives he is currently unemployed. Trejo is charged with 83 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2). Kevin Scott Woods, 39, from Polk City. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Woods’ cell phone and located pornographic (or nude) images of children as young as 6-years old. Scott told detectives he receives $1450 a month from Social Security Disability Benefits. Scott was charged with 35 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2). His criminal history includes Aggravated Domestic Assault, Assault, Grand Theft, Petit Theft, and Possession of Marijuana. Eddy Zumeta, Jr., 32, from Winter Haven. Following up on a tip, detectives searched Zumeta’s electronic devices and located images of children between the ages of 8 and 11-years old being sexually battered. During the investigation, detectives discovered Zumeta also advertised online child pornography from his apartment. Zumeta told detectives he works as a lifeguard at Shades of Green Resort. He was charged with 20 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2) and 1 count of Promotion of Child Pornography (F2). As previously reported on November 21, 2020 Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 46-year-old Shawn Fitzgerald, a Lakeland High School teacher on Friday, November 20, 2020 and charged him with 408 counts of possessing child pornography (F2). Fitzgerald, a Lakeland resident, at the time of his arrest was the varsity soccer coach for Lakeland High School and a Youth Director at First United Methodist Church in Bartow. Click here to read the previously sent news release. On November 25, 2020, following a forensic search of Fitzgerald’s electronic devices, detectives located another 389 images and videos of children as young as 12 months old being sexually battered. Fitzgerald has been charged with an additional 389 counts of Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (F2). He remains in jail on a $3,985,000 bond ($5,000 per charge).
Motorcyclist Killed In Polk County Crash Monday Night
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic deputies investigated a two-vehicle crash last evening in Poinciana, involving a Mitsubishi SUV and a Suzuki motorcycle, during which the motorcyclist was killed. Preliminary information is as follows:
Around 9:15 p.m. on Monday, December 21, 2020, 40-year-old Hector Rafael Nin, Jr. of Kissimmee, was traveling eastbound on the Cypress Parkway on his motorcycle. As he approached the area where there is a fire station (at 1201 Cypress Pkwy) he was struck by the SUV being driven westbound in the eastbound lane by 23-year-old Rodre Hamilton of Kissimmee.
Hamilton was in the process of passing another westbound vehicle when he struck Nin. The Polk County Fire Rescue personnel and one deputy sheriff who were at the fire station when the crash occurred immediately responded to render aid, but Nin was deceased. Hamilton was not injured, and remained on-scene.
It is apparent that Nin was wearing his helmet, and it came off during the crash. Cypress Parkway in the area was shut down in both directions for approximately 3.5 hours. The investigation is ongoing.
Duo Wearing Pink Pilfer More Than $400 Worth of Jamaican Rum And Cognac From Walmart
Winter Haven Police Department
Duo wearing pink pilfer more than $400 worth of Jamaican Rum and Cognac from Walmart.
On 12-15-20, the pair in pink go to the Walmart Liquor Store and proceed to load up. The older woman actually leaves and returns to fill up more. They were seen leaving in a 2005 dark gray/black Chevy Impala.
Recognize them? Call Detective Hebson at 863-401-2256. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Busted- Walking Out of Walmart With More than $725 Worth of Unpaid For Items
Winter Haven Police Department:
Switching it up a bit.
Walking out of Walmart with more than $725 worth of items with no attempt to pay – and got busted!
42 year-old Tavarus Cotton did just that at Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd) on Dec. 19. He concealed items in his pockets and filled a cart full of items. (By the way, this is his third shoplifting arrest)
Although we do actually make shoplifting arrests almost daily, this one needed to be highlighted due to the amount. Can you say wow?
Sheriff Judd To Brief Media On Retail Theft Busts Friday Morning
Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the media at 10:30 a.m. this morning, Friday, December 18, 2020, at the PCSO Sheriff’s Operations Center (1891 Jim Keene Blvd in Winter Haven) about 8 suspects statewide who have been identified and charged during an investigation that started in August of 2019, responsible for the theft and illegal re-sale of high-dollar items such as baby formula, diapers, and energy drinks, resulting in felony charges of grand theft and racketeering, among other crimes.
Detectives worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, Ashley Moody, Attorney General.
The total estimated loss to retailers is $84,669, of which $10,520 occurred in Polk County. The victims are Publix, Winn Dixie, and Walmart – in 18 different counties, and 10 different judicial circuits.
“This is the second group of retail thieves brought to justice by Sheriff Judd’s Deputies and my Statewide Prosecutors this month. Criminals be warned: We will not allow rampant retail theft to harm Florida businesses and force consumers to pay inflated prices to cover the costs of your indolent, unscrupulous crime sprees. These businesses have to build into their budgets projected losses to organized crime rings and shoplifters. Inevitably, those losses get passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices at the cash register. When crime rings, like this one, steal from retailers, they are essentially stealing from all Floridians.” – Ashley Moody, Attorney General
On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, five of the suspects were arrested in Hillsborough County and booked into the HCSO jail. One suspect was arrested in Orlando and booked into the Orange County Department of Corrections facility. On Thursday, December 17th, one suspect turned herself in, in Polk County, and is in the Polk County Jail. The last suspect is still at large and she has a Polk County warrant for her arrest.
Man Steals So Many Items From Cars In Parking Garage, It Takes Him Three Trips
Winter Haven Police Department
This guy has confidence he won’t get caught. Let’s prove him wrong!
The guy in the video entered the parking garage at Tupelo Vue Apartments (525 Ave H NW) on Dec. 8, 2020 around 6 a.m. and started checking door handles. Ultimately, he found two vehicles unlocked and proceeded to take items from the interior as well as the trunks. He takes his time and ends up needed to make three trips to take the items to wherever he will ultimately leave with them.
Our victims lost electronics and tools along with a Jordan brand backpack.
The images of the subject are not clear, but someone may recognize his clothing or his walk. He was wearing a jacket with a hoodie, a ball cap, basketball shorts and sneakers with no socks.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Maldonado at 863-291-5676. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Lake Wales woman arrested for selling undercover deputies 8.8 pounds of methamphetamine
Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (H.I.D.T.A) Task Force and members of Homeland Security Investigations (H.S.I) Tampa Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection developed information that 47-year-old Maria Rocio Gordillo of Lake Wales was involved in the trafficking of methamphetamine. The investigation is a follow-up from the ongoing “Operation Meth Death Peddlers” investigation where 44 suspects were arrested and 50 pounds of methamphetamine was seized in 2018 and 2019, culminating in numerous arrests in April of 2019. See the Polk County Sheriff’s Office news release here: https://tinyurl.com/y9j7pcxg. Gordillo was the live in spouse of Otoniel Valdez-Mendoza, one of those arrested for conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine during Operation Meth Death Peddlers. He is currently being held on no bond in the Polk County Jail.
“These drug dealers have blood on their hands. They make money off the misery of others. They use violence as a means to enforce their trafficking business.” Grady Judd, Sheriff
Undercover detectives communicated with Gordillo and arranged two separate methamphetamine transactions. The first transaction occurred on December 3rd; detectives purchased a kilogram of methamphetamine (2.2 pounds) from Gordillo at her residence located at 255 Waverly Loop, Lake Wales. The 2nd transaction occurred on December 9th at her residence. Gordillo gave the detectives three, one gallon sized bags that contained a crystal like substance—a total of about 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) that tested positive for methamphetamine. Detectives also seized $4,100 U.S currency.
Detectives took Gordillo into custody and she was booked into the Polk County Jail on December 9th. She is being held on $71,000 bond. She is charged with 2 counts each of:
Trafficking in Methamphetamine; 893.135 (1)(F)1; F1 Possession of a structure/conveyance used to traffic a controlled substance; 893.1351(2); F2Possession of drug paraphernalia; 893.147 (1); M1
Tornado Warning from WED 5:02 PM EST until WED 5:30 PM EST
Weather Channel:
Tornado Warning from WED 5:02 PM EST until WED 5:30 PM EST
Action Recommended
Take shelter in place or per instructions
Issued By
Tampa Bay/Ruskin – FL, US, National Weather Service
Affected Area
Polk County
Description
The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a Tornado Warning for… Northwestern Polk County in central Florida… Northeastern Hillsborough County in west central Florida… Until 530 PM EST. At 501 PM EST, a tornado producing storm was located north of Plant City, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD…Damaging tornado. SOURCE…Radar confirmed tornado. IMPACT…Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. This tornadic storm will be near… Combee Settlement around 520 PM EST. Lakeland around 525 PM EST. Fussels Corner around 530 PM EST. Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Kathleen, Gibsonia, Polk City and Winston. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW! TORNADO…OBSERVED; HAIL…0.00IN
Tech Tuesday: Malware Laced Software Updates In The Wild Since March 2020 (Sunburst)
Over the weekend several news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and the Washington Post reported that Cyber Security Intrusions were detected across the globe.
The Cyber Incident appears to be the result of hackers who are believed to be working for foreign governments. These Cyber Criminals were able to breach the software provider SolarWinds by obtaining ftp credentials that were exposed publicly on GitHub. SolarWinds is a company known for monitoring, managing and maintaining core network infrastructure equipment.
Once inside SolarWinds ftp network the Cybercriminal’s deployed malware-laced software updates that infected its Orion software platform. These updates were pushed to users around the globe. Some of these entities include several US Government Networks, Fortune 500 companies, as well as small and medium businesses who use their product.
The infected Orion software updates were laced with malware that dropped Command and Control agents. This allowed attackers to use the machines as pivot points to move laterally throughout the victim’s network.
Now the interesting thing here is the fact that Cyber Criminals were able to silently launch their attacks and potentially setup CNC (Command and Control) machines on victim’s networks undetected. Industry research has shown that, on average, advanced attacks nest inside organizations for 200 days before discovery. That’s a long time for an attacker to stealthily gather private data, monitor communications and map the network.
According to an analysis reported by Tenable the backdoor malware resides in a dynamic-link library (DLL) file name SolarWinds.Orion.Core.BusinessLayer.dll. The file was digitally signed by SolarWinds with a valid certificate on March 24, meaning it would be trusted by the underlying operating system and would not raise any alarms.
The backdoored DLL file was seeded as part of SolarWinds software builds between March and June 2020, which are accessible via the SolarWinds website. Once an organization installed the malicious software update, the backdoored DLL file would remain in hibernation for a period of two weeks before beginning its operation. This is one of the stealthy elements of this operation. FireEye says in its blog post that the backdoor also managed to “blend in with legitimate SolarWinds activity” in order to evade detection.
What makes this even more interesting is the fact that this malware Sunburst, has been in the wild for approximately 9 months before being detected. For many this is scary to think about as many companies have probably had their systems compromised or data ex-filtrated from their environment without ever knowing it. More than likely there is other malware in organizations systems that are ready to launch an attack in the future.
Now is an opportune time to evaluate your network environment and get a health check on where you stand with Obsolete OS’s, Software patching, and most of all dig into SIEM logs and determine what core infrastructure systems are calling out to the internet and why. One way to get an accurate health check is to have a pen test conducted against your environment. A Pen Test is conducted by a white hat hacker that uses a variety of tools to try and gain access to your vital computer systems. Once the pen test is completed by the white hat hacker you will be provided a report that shows what systems are vulnerable to an attack, how an attack could be launched against your organization, and ultimately steps or actions you can take to mitigate your risks.
If you or your organization would like to discuss options to evaluate, test, or discuss what your organization can do to protect it against a Cyber Security attack please reach out so we can setup a meeting with one of our Cyber Security Experts to review options.
You can reach me at [email protected] or call 863-734-8060 to schedule your appointment.
Kip Kirchberg is an International Cyber Security Expert who has experience building World Class Cyber Security Teams. His experience has been leveraged by Multiple Fortune 500 organizations to help build, tune, and enhance their Cyber Security Posture.
Experience includes but is not limited to Building SIEM platforms, Endpoint Security, 3rd Party Remote Access, Industrial Control System’s, NextGen Firewall’s, Threat Hunting to Identify Cyber Security Risks, Generating Executive Reports that lead to actionable data, Build and maintain Incident Response Team’s, Draft and Adopt Corporate Cyber Security Governance, Internal and External Pen Testing, Team Building, plus much more…
Temporary Recycling Locations For The Holidays
Winter Haven Police Department
Temporary Recycling Locations for the Holidays
You can take an important step in protecting yourself from criminals. Those packages that you have can show criminals just what you receive for Christmas. Don’t leave the boxes by the curb.
Take an extra step to protect yourself and utilize one of the temporary recycling locations that have been set up. They will be open starting on Christmas eve.
