 |
| 📸 Photo: Polk County Sheriff’s Office |
Published October 7th, 2025
Updated October 7, 2025, at 11:32 PM EST — The press release information originally provided to our newsroom by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was inaccurate. The individual in question was not a law enforcement officer.
_____
18th Suspect Charged in ‘Operation Child Protector VII’; Former Arizona Law Enforcement Officer Arrested
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (October 7, 2025) — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has charged a former Arizona law enforcement officer as the 18th suspect in Operation Child Protector VII, a multi-agency undercover investigation targeting individuals who attempt to exploit children online.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 44-year-old Jonathan Edward Veselka of Phoenix, Arizona, was arrested on October 1, 2025, at his workplace following a federal investigation. Veselka is accused of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, sending illicit photos and videos, and attempting to lure the child to Las Vegas for sex.
🕵️ Undercover Operation and Explicit Communications
The investigation began on September 11, 2025, when an HSI Task Force Officer (TFO), working undercover as a teenage girl, was contacted on the messaging app Kik by a user named “honestjon81.”
The suspect—later identified as Veselka—quickly initiated graphic sexual conversations, asked for “risky pics,” and offered to fly the girl to California or Las Vegas for a weekend trip.
Over the course of several days, Veselka sent a $400 Visa gift card to the undercover detective to cover airfare and expenses. He also booked a Terrace One Bedroom Suite at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, instructing the supposed child to delete their messages, and to continue taking birth control pills.
In one message, Veselka wrote:
“I’m putting a HUGE amount of trust in you. Please don’t let me down. My life would be ruined.”
📦 Evidence and Arrest
Detectives traced the gift card purchase to a store near Veselka’s home and verified his employment as a security guard with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. He had also recently resigned from the Department of Homeland Security, where he worked as a TSA agent, following an unrelated theft investigation.
A federal arrest warrant was issued charging Veselka with:
- Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor
- Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor
- Attempted Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Conduct
Veselka was taken into custody without incident, and a search warrant executed at his home recovered the gift card, receipt, and additional corroborating evidence. He refused to speak with investigators.
 |
| 📸 Photo: Polk County Sheriff’s Office |
⚖️ Sheriff Grady Judd’s Statement
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd commended the collaborative efforts between PCSO detectives and federal partners, saying:
“This predator thought he could hide behind a screen and lure a child across the country for sex. He planned the flights, booked the hotel, and sent the money—all for a child he believed was 14. Thanks to our detectives and federal partners, he’s not going to Las Vegas—he’s going to jail.”
🚔 Background on the Operation
Operation Child Protector VII, conducted in September 2025, is part of an ongoing series of proactive, undercover stings targeting individuals who use the internet to solicit children for sexual acts. The operation has now resulted in 18 total arrests.
📰 Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office / Homeland Security Investigations
#PolkCounty #OperationChildProtector #GradyJudd #LawEnforcement #ChildExploitation #HSI #FloridaNews #iSkyNews
Shop our iSkyShop for exclusive Clothing, Tumblers, and more.
© 2025 iSkyNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
_____
Stay in the loop, stay safe.
With Citizen, you’ll get live, instant alerts plus local breaking news and updates that matter most to you. It’s free, easy to use, and keeps you connected when it counts.
📲 Tap here to join and follow iSkyNews: https://go.citizen.com/iskynews — because the news can’t wait.
0 Comments