Undercover sex trafficking operation leads to arrest of four Northeast Florida men

NORTHEAST, Fla. — Four of five people arrested after a joint undercover sex trafficking operation carried out by federal and local law enforcement were from Orange Park or Jacksonville, says the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Here is what we know:

• U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the arrests of:

- Justin Latronica, 30, of Orange Park,

- James Allen shook, 48, of Weeki Wachee,

- Timothy Veres, III, 24, of Jacksonville.

• They’re charged with attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
• Veres faces an additional charge of soliciting for images depicting sexual abuse of a child.
• Each suspect faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
• According to court records, in January 2020, Latronica, Shook and Veres went to an undercover location to engage in sexual activity with individuals they believed were 12 and 14 years old.
• Arrests were part of a joint operation conducted between January 24 to January 27, 2020 in Orange Park.
• Agencies involved include the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
• As part of the operation, Clay County Sheriff’s Office also arrested two people: Abhishek Shah, 30, of Jacksonville, and Che’ Jenkins Jr., 22, of Jacksonville. Shah and Jenkins were charged in state court with violating state law by traveling to meet a minor to engage in an unlawful sex act, soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer services or devices, and the unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

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