Polk County Sheriff's Office leads weeklong undercover sting that results in 281 arrests
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said a seven-day undercover operation, his office’s largest ever, led to 281 arrests targeting child predators and human trafficking. The sheriff’s office said 17 suspects reported working at theme parks or resorts; International Business Times UK reported 13 Disney workers and four Universal workers. WKMG reported seven were suspected child sex predators.
More context
In Polk County, Florida, the seven-day “Polk Around and Find Out II” operation resulted in 281 arrests, authorities said; 17 arrestees told detectives they worked at theme parks or resorts.
The sheriff’s office said 31 suspects allegedly communicated with undercover detectives posing as children or guardians. Of the 17 theme-park workers, 13 worked at Disney and four at Universal, International Business Times UK reported; not all were among the suspected predators. According to WKMG News 6, investigators identified seven of those workers as suspected child sex predators.
A separate human-trafficking operation accounted for 249 arrests, according to International Business Times UK, which reported 117 alleged sex buyers and 122 people arrested on prostitution-related charges. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Judd said the investigation generated 488 charges, including 198 felonies. The arrests and charges do not establish guilt.
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Reporting
- International Business Times UK — Massive Florida Undercover Operation Nabs 281 Suspects Including Seventeen Theme Park Employees | IBTimes UK
- WKMG News 6 — Here’s every child sex predator arrested in Polk County’s biggest sting
- International Business Times UK — Disney, Toy Story Land and Slinky Dog Workers Among 31 Suspected 'Nasty Child Predators' in Florida Sting | IBTimes UK
- westernjournal.com — Major Human Trafficking Sting in Florida Nets 281 Arrests – Including Disney Workers
- wdwinfo.com — Disney World Employees Among 281 Arrested in Florida Sting
- kpic.com — 281 arrested in Florida child predator, human trafficking sting; 17 worked at theme parks
Verifier’s note
IBTimes UK, Western Journal, ClickOrlando, WDWInfo, and KPIC report the Florida operation’s 281 arrests and link theme park employees to those arrested; IBTimes UK’s follow-up adds that 17 worked at theme parks, including 13 at Disney and four at Universal. These reports describe a recent operation and do not contradict the central claim.