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CrimeQuiet 5d · day 9

281 arrested in Florida sting; 17 theme park employees charged

Polk County sheriff reports Disney and Universal staff among those targeted in seven-day human trafficking and child predation operation.

newest coverage 4d agosummary written 6d ago10 pieces MastodonNewswiresGoogle NewsReddit

What to know

  • A seven-day undercover operation arrested 281 suspects, including 13 Disney and 4 Universal employees, targeting individuals involved in human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.
  • 31 suspects had traveled to Polk County to attempt sex with minors; 24 carried firearms and 32 were undocumented immigrants.
  • Arrested individuals included a youth sports coach, active Navy officer, and a former Disney character employee; Disney has fired all implicated staff.
  • The operation demonstrates law enforcement focus on predators operating within major institutional settings where children gather.

“the joint operation, which took place over seven days, focused on nabbing predators who prey upon and travel to meet children for unlawful sexual activity and human trafficking.”

Sheriff Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff · CBS News ↗

Sheriff Grady Judd Polk County SheriffDisney EmployerUniversal Studios Employer

281 arrested in Florida sting; 17 theme park employees charged
CBS News

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in two hours at Oct 30, 10 AM; 10 pieces over 9 days (6 articles · 4 posts) Oct 30, 10 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Oct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 2 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 6 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 12 AM — quietOct 31, 2 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 6 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 10 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 31, 12 PM — quietOct 31, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 10 PM — quietNov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 5 AM — quietNov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 9 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Nov 1, 5 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 1 AM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 5 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 5 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 1 AM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Nov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 3, 1 PM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 5 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 5 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 1 PM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 5 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 1 AM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 5 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 1 PM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 1 AM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 5 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 5 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quiet 1–2
Oct 31Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6yesterdaynow · 11:26 AM ET
  1. 2

    Sheriff Judd reports 17 theme park employees among those arrested

    Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced at a press conference that 13 Disney employees and 4 Universal Studios employees were among the 281 suspects arrested. The operation also netted 31 suspects who traveled to attempt sex with children, 24 armed suspects, and included a youth sports coach and active Navy officer.

    “It is extremely disturbing when we encounter nasty child predators like these who are very eager to have sex with children. This is why we conduct these types of undercover operations.”
    — Sheriff Grady Judd
    1. 2 outlets Florida child sex sting operation ensnares 17 theme park workers, including Disney and Universal

      first by Independent UK, 6d ago · also Breitbart

      1 more headline
    2. 2 outlets 17 Disney and Universal employees among 281 arrested in Florida sex trafficking sting, sheriff says

      first by CBS News, 9d ago · also FOX 13 Tampa Bay

      1 more headline
    1 more claim →
  2. background

    Disney confirms termination of arrested employees — Disney cooperated with law enforcement and confirmed it has fired all employees involved in the operation. Universal Studios's response remained pending at time of reporting.

  3. background

    Details emerge on specific suspects and seized materials — Among those arrested were a former Disney employee who worked as a Mickey Mouse character with a diaper fetish (police seized two backpacks of diapers), and a Disney employee found with his uniform in the car en route to meet an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old boy. The head coach of the Davenport Titans youth team, which serves 11-14 year-olds, believed he was traveling to meet a 14-year-old girl.

  4. 1

    Seven-day undercover operation nets 281 arrests in Polk County

    Law enforcement conducted a joint human trafficking and child sexual predators enforcement operation over seven days targeting individuals who prey on children for unlawful sexual activity and human trafficking.