By Jay Meisel

Staff writer

FORT PIERCE - One suspect is accused of trying to trade lobsters for an opportunity to have sex with a child.

Another was arrested after a technician discovered child pornography on his computer, which was repossessed.

They were among 27 suspects nabbed during Operation Safe Summer 3, aimed at catching sexual predators using the Internet.

A press conference held last Friday at the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office unveiled the results of the operation.

"We want to be that person they want to come in contact with and not a child," said Brian Broughton, an investigator with the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

In many of the cases, investigators said, the suspects, who were in Internet chat rooms, contacted undercover officers posing as teenagers.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said such an operation is especially needed during the summer, as children are at home.

"Summer is a time when there are many hours of unsupervised computer time," he said.

Also participating in the investigation were the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Port St. Lucie Police Department and immigration and customs officials.

One of the suspects, Charles A. Giovinco, of Riverview, was charged with enticement of a child via the Internet and possession of child pornography.

Neil Spector, an investigator with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, said Mr. Giovinco is a principal in a business that, among other things, teaches people to dive for lobster.

Mr. Giovinco is accused of traveling to a motel in St. Lucie County to meet the supposed father of a teenager to arrange to have sex with the teen.

The deal supposedly was going to involve a trade of lobsters or lobster-diving lessons in exchange for the sex, Mr. Spector said.

Another suspect, Leonard Angelo Torres, 24, of 891 S.W. Rocky Terrace, Port St. Lucie, was charged with possession of nine counts of child pornography.

Mr. Broughton said Mr. Torres was renting the computer from Aaron's Rental. After the computer was repossessed, a tech found multiple images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity and videos of children engaged in sexual activity.

In that and other cases, investigators are trying to identify children in the photos or videos, he added.

In all, investigators served 18 search warrants, recovered 3,100 pornographic images or videos involving children, and seized 28 computers.

In one case, Mr. Broughton said, the suspect lived in his neighborhood.

The suspects aren't generally creepy guys seen on the corner, said Sgt. Charlie Luumpkin, a Port St. Lucie detective.

"They come from all walks of life," he said.

Those arrested in addition to Mr. Torres who live on the Treasure Coast include:

.Francis McElderry, 46, 843 S.W. Jaslo Ave, Port St. Lucie, charged with one federal charge of child enticement.

.Glen E. Lewis, 42, 8360 Camellia Drive, Hobe Sound, charged federally with child enticement.

.Jefferson Davis, 51, 4489 Salvatori Road, Stuart, charged with possession of child pornography.

.Jergen Makowski, 46, 3321 Ferndale Ave., Stuart, charged with possession of child pornography.

.Roberto Crespo, 36, 2122 S.E. South Buttonwood Drive, Port St. Lucie, charged with one count of possession of child pornography.

.Edgardo Sensi, 52, 2750 N.W. Windmere Drive, Jensen Beach, charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography.