An Andalusia man was one of 16 arrested as part of a six-day Operation Wolf Hunter conducted in Okaloosa County.

Authorities arrested 19-year-old Robert Donald Lawson of 15988 S. Hwy. 29 Andalusia.

The Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office said the investigation was a joint undercover cyber sex sting in partnership with multiple state and local agencies.

It began Oct. 21, and concluded Tuesday morning after investigators went online to various chat forums searching for individuals who were looking for sexual activity with a child.

All suspects are charged with traveling to meet a minor and using an online service to lure/entice a minor.

“Unfortunately, child sexual predators truly exist,” Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley told the Northwest Florida Daily News. “They are real and in today’s technological society, they can invade our homes and reach our children.”

As part of the operation, suspects were lured to a location for sexual activity with a child. Three men believed they were traveling to meet a 14-year-old boy, while 13 believed they were going to meet a girl between the ages of 11 and 14.

Also arrested were:

• James Patrick Applegate, 29, who was the band director at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Fort Walton Beach;

• Cameron William Ahlsen-Girard, 27, who volunteered at St. Mary’s Catholic School and was employed at Emerald Coast Science Center;

• Michael Bradley Christmas, 33, Fort Walton Beach;

• Adam Chay Bairos, 21, Valparaiso;

• William Max Gage Calton, 27, Valparaiso;

• Garrett Thomas Richards, 19, Hurlburt Field;

• Darin Roger Paddie, 21, Niceville;

• David McLeod, 28, Shalimar;

• John Joseph Schreiner, 28, Mary Esther;

• Ali Khaleel Huthail, 27, Panama City;

• Jacob James Brenner, 27, Gulf Breeze;

• David Allen Royce, 31, Freeport;

• Tejay Landon Aplin, 25. Panama City; and

• Chad Michael Keiser, 37, Panama City.