TAMPA - An undercover human trafficking operation in Hillsborough County has resulted in the rescue of a toddler and a missing teenager, along with the arrest of 89 people trying to exploit children, officials announced Tuesday.
Timeline:
The investigation, which ran from Jan. 1 through Feb. 6, 2026, brought forth more than 1,200 felony charges.
Victims saved
Investigators say that they received a tip about the sexual exploitation of a two-year-old child. Peter Torres, 42, was identified and arrested, and the child was safely recovered.
Pictured: Peter Torres. Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
In a separate case, a missing 17-year-old girl was being exploited for commercial sex. She was safely rescued, and her accused trafficker, Armani Hopkins, 22, was arrested.
Pictured: Armani Hopkins. Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
"If you are using a hotel room, a chat app, or a fake profile to pursue a child, we are there," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Our detectives will follow the digital trail all the way to your door."
Arrests made
Stephen Fabic, 41, a former math teacher at Hillsborough High School, is accused of offering to pick up a teenager and bring them to his home to have sex.
Pictured: Stephen Fabic. Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
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John Altieri, 69, was taken into custody after investigators say he tried having a ride-share service pick up a juvenile and bring them to his home. Altieri later sent explicit videos to an undercover officer.
Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
He was already serving home confinement on probation for previous drug charges at the time of the arrest.
What they're saying:
In many of the cases, Chronister said that those arrested thought they were communicating with minors or their guardians to arrange sexual encounters.
"In every instance, they were communicating with law enforcement and arranging their own arrest," Sheriff Chronister said.
The rescued toddler and teenager are receiving support services from Selah Freedom and One More Child.
Additional assistance was provided by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Florida Department of Corrections (Probation and Parole).
Detectives say that the investigation is ongoing.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.