Florida Law Enforcement: 281 Arrests in Child Predator and Trafficking Operation

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the completion of a seven-day undercover operation on Friday. The effort, named Polk Around and Find Out II, resulted in the arrest of 281 individuals suspected of child predation and human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies coordinated the sting to intercept adults seeking to meet minors for sex and to disrupt local trafficking networks.

The operation began last week and concluded this week. Agents executed two distinct stings during the seven-day period. A traveler sting targeted adults who traveled to meet children for sexual activity. A separate human trafficking sting focused on commercial sex acts. The combined effort generated 488 new charges against the suspects. Prosecutors listed 198 of these charges as felonies.

Sheriff Judd emphasized the severity of the evidence collected during the investigation. He stated in a news release that the statements made by predators to children are often vile and repulsive even to trained detectives. Judd urged parents to monitor their children's online activity. He noted that while authorities cannot stop predators from reaching out, proactive education and monitoring can help catch offenders before they groom or violate children.

Authorities detailed the criminal history of the suspects. Forty of the arrested individuals resided in Polk County. The remaining suspects traveled from across Florida, 20 other states, and 18 countries. The group included 17 theme park employees, though officials did not identify which parks they worked for. Nine suspects were on probation for prior offenses ranging from bank robbery to cruelty toward a child. Nine others had been arrested in earlier Sheriff’s Office stings, including two from the first Polk Around & Find Out operation earlier this year.

The investigation also uncovered weapons and drugs. Suspects brought 24 guns to the sting locations. Thirty-two individuals faced charges for drug possession, which included methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Additionally, 32 suspects were identified as illegal aliens from countries including Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, and Haiti. Sixteen of these individuals have already been transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The traveler sting resulted in 32 arrests. The human trafficking sting accounted for the remaining 249 arrests. This latter group included 117 sex buyers and 122 people arrested for prostitution. Traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity is a second-degree felony in Florida. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Uthmeier’s office released the final numbers on Friday. The data confirms the geographic spread of the suspects and the variety of charges filed. The operation concluded with the transfer of detainees to local and federal custody. No further arrests are scheduled for this specific phase of the investigation.