UMVA has learned that a daring operation by a mixed martial arts fighter has led to the exposure of a suspect in South Florida, accused of attempting to meet a minor for a sexual encounter.
Dustin Lampros, founder of 561 Predator Catchers, used a decoy posing online as a 13-year-old boy to lure the suspect, Christian Walden, into a trap. According to court records, Walden had arranged to meet the decoy at a Home Depot, where he planned to engage in explicit sex acts.
Lampros, a featherweight fighter, confronted Walden at the store, peppering him with questions about his plans. Walden, calm and collected, revealed that he had planned to meet a 13-year-old boy, describing the sex acts he had intended to perform.
As the conversation unfolded, an associate of Lampros filmed the interaction, and the men walked calmly toward the store's exit together. Outside, Delray Beach Police took Walden into custody, charging him with traveling to meet a minor for an unlawful sex act and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Walden, who was 21 at the time of his arrest, was serving in student government at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and had leadership roles in several on-campus clubs. He had been studying public management and had a passion for LGBTQ+ rights, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Days after his arrest, Walden was impeached and removed from his position in an emergency meeting by fellow members. He is currently out of jail on $25,000 bond, facing up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for the felony charges.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Lampros' operation is part of a larger effort by civilians to identify alleged child predators, which is legal in Florida. However, these operations must be carefully conducted to avoid entrapment, and decoys cannot suggest illegal activity.
Mark Astor, a former assistant state attorney, notes that these cases can be difficult for defendants, as extensive evidence has been gathered. Lampros, known by his moniker "Scrappy," will face his next opponent in the ring at Combat Night on July 25.
