Polk County sting nets 281 in online predator and trafficking sweep

A seven-day undercover operation in Polk County concluded with 281 arrests and 488 new criminal charges, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The initiative, titled Operation Polk Around & Find Out II, ran dual sting operations simultaneously. One targeted adults attempting to meet minors for sexual activity, yielding 32 arrests. The second focused on human trafficking networks, resulting in 249 additional arrests, including 117 accused sex buyers and 122 individuals accused of prostitution.

The 281 suspects face 198 felonies and 290 misdemeanors. Officials noted that the group brought a combined history of 798 prior criminal charges, including 358 previous felonies. Nine individuals were actively on probation for offenses such as bank robbery and child cruelty, while nine had been arrested in prior sheriff’s stings. Detectives seized 24 firearms and filed drug possession charges against 32 suspects for methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Public records indicate 22 suspects receive a combined $100,476 annually in public assistance.

Investigators stated that only 40 of the arrested individuals reside in Polk County. The remainder traveled from across Florida, 20 other states, and 18 foreign countries. Among those booked were 17 theme park employees from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, including seven accused of being child sex predators. Authorities identified 32 undocumented immigrants from nine nations, including Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, and Haiti. Immigration officials have taken custody of 16 of those individuals so far.

Sheriff Grady Judd confirmed that Disney fired the workers arrested during the sweep, and Universal Studios took similar action. Judd also noted the arrest of Eric Raymond, an Orange County school resource deputy, who arrived to negotiate sex for money. Attorney General James Uthmeier stated that predators targeting Florida’s children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He described the arrests as a success in catching those who expected to find victims but instead found detectives.

Judd highlighted the arrest of a 54-year-old woman and her adult son, who drove her to an undercover location where she offered sex for $300 an hour. He also described a man claiming former work as a Mickey Mouse character who arrived with two backpacks of diapers. Judd urged parents to monitor their children’s online activity and know the adults in their children's lives. He noted the arrest of a children’s football and cheerleading coach during the operation.

Detectives worked with social service advocates from One More Child and the Florida Department of Children and Families to evaluate the 122 individuals accused of prostitution. Specialists identified 11 human trafficking victims and provided crisis resources. The operation involved municipal police from Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Lake City, Lake Wales, and Lakeland, alongside sheriff's offices from Columbia, Hardee, Hillsborough, Marion, and Osceola counties. Federal support included the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Prosecutors intend to seek maximum statutory penalties for all defendants. Under Florida law, traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity is a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years in state prison. The attorney general’s office reported that more than 2,300 child predators have been arrested statewide since February 2025.