The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 40-year-old Sarasota man who travelled to have sex with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old child.

 

The West Palm Beach Police Department launched its investigation in October 2018 when undercover detectives began communicating with Fred Makowski, DOB 09/27/76, through a social media platform. Detectives posed as a 14-year-old child who would soon be travelling to Siesta Key on a family vacation. Over the course of several months, Makowski communicated with the child, acknowledged her age, and sent explicit photos. On Monday morning, Makowski travelled to a hotel on Siesta Key to meet who he believed was the 14-year-old girl named “Holly” he met online. Makowski was immediately taken into custody and interviewed by sheriff’s office detectives where he admitted to sending explicit photos and going to the hotel to meet the 14-year-old.

 

Makowski, of 5533 Ashton Cove Court, is charged with Transmitting Information Harmful to Minors, Travelling to Meet a Child for Sex, Use of a Computer to Solicit a Child for Sex, and Felony Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. He remains in custody today at the Sarasota County Jail without bond. Makowski has prior arrests for Grand Theft, Driving While License Suspended, Violation of Probation, and more.