17 theme park workers among 281 arrested during undercover operation

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB/Gray News) — Florida law enforcement officials said a seven-day undercover operation resulted in 281 arrests and 488 new charges, including 198 felonies.

About the operation

The operation, called “Polk Around & Find Out II,” included simultaneous investigations focused on people accused of traveling to meet children for unlawful sexual activity and commercial sex activity, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

“Those who came to Polk County expecting to sexually abuse a child, found cuffs instead,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said during Friday’s news conference.

Authorities said those arrested had a combined 798 prior criminal charges. Officials also said 24 suspects had firearms and 32 people were charged with drug possession.

Theme park employees

The sheriff’s office said 17 people arrested during the operation worked at theme parks.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Disney told investigators it had fired employees connected to the arrests.

Judd said he had not received an update from Universal about the employment status of its workers who were arrested.

Where suspects lived

Officials said 40 of those arrested lived in Polk County. Others came from elsewhere in Florida, 20 other states and 18 countries.

Immigration status

The sheriff’s office said 32 people arrested during the operation were in the country unlawfully, and 16 had been transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

An ICE official at the news conference said the agency interviewed more than 65 foreign-born people and placed more than 30 detainers on people it identified as removable under immigration law.

Nonprofit outreach

One More Child, a nonprofit that worked with law enforcement during the operation, said it engaged with 93 people and that 18 agreed to receive services. The organization said officials identified 11 people they believe were victims of human trafficking.

“We know that accepting help takes trust, and people may be afraid, unsure, or not ready to take that step,” Sine Dressler, One More Child’s senior director of anti-trafficking operations, said during the news conference.

Investigation continues

Judd said investigators are also reviewing whether additional children may have been victimized in connection with one of the people arrested, a youth football coach.

The investigation is ongoing.