Operation in Florida Leads to 281 Arrests for Child Predation and Trafficking: Undocumented Cubans Among Those Detained

A covert operation lasting a week in Polk County, Florida, wrapped up this Friday with the arrest of 281 individuals and the filing of 488 new criminal charges, including 198 felonies, as announced by Attorney General James Uthmeier alongside Sheriff Grady Judd.

Among those apprehended were 32 undocumented immigrants hailing from Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, and Haiti, 16 of whom have already been handed over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The operation, named "Polk Around and Find Out II," conducted two simultaneous investigations: one targeted at adults traveling with the intent of meeting minors for sexual purposes, resulting in 32 arrests, and the other focused on human trafficking, which led to an additional 249 arrests. This included 117 individuals accused of soliciting sex and 122 people charged with prostitution.

The official statement did not specify how many of the 32 undocumented immigrants were specifically Cuban. Their transfer to ICE is part of the 287(g) program, under which over 29,000 local agents in Florida cooperate with the federal agency on immigration matters.

The profile of those arrested was noteworthy: 17 were employees of theme parks—13 from Disney and four from Universal Studios—along with an Orange County sheriff's deputy, a youth soccer coach, and a U.S. Navy sailor on active duty.

Only 40 of the 281 individuals detained were residents of Polk County. The others came from various parts of Florida, 20 additional states, and 18 different countries.

Collectively, the individuals arrested had 798 prior charges, 358 of which were felonies. Nine were on probation for offenses ranging from bank robbery to child cruelty, and nine had been caught in previous operations by the same sheriff.

At the time of their arrest, the suspects were in possession of 24 weapons, and 32 were charged with drug possession, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.

Uthmeier was straightforward in his assessment of the operation's outcomes: "Predators targeting Florida’s children will be hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Those who came to Polk County looking to harm a child found handcuffs instead."

Sheriff Judd issued a direct plea to parents: "These predators are out there, online, trying to manipulate and harm our children. I urge parents to engage with their kids and monitor their online activity. We can't stop predators from trying to contact them, but we can educate and be proactive in catching a predator before they can cause harm."

Traveling to meet a minor for sexual purposes is a second-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to 15 years in prison under section 847.0135(4) of the Florida Statutes.

This marks the second iteration of the operation, with the first announced on May 1, resulting in 266 arrests, including 19 alleged child sexual predators.

In April, an undercover police operation in Miami led to the arrest of 15 individuals accused of child sex trafficking.

Dubbed "Operation Wrong Turn," the initiative was conducted by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Human Trafficking Task Force and the Miami Police Department's Special Investigations Section.

Undercover detectives posted an online ad posing as a mother offering the sexual services of her supposed 13 and 15-year-old daughters in exchange for money.

The suspects responded to the ad, engaged in text and phone communications with the agents, and despite being informed they were dealing with minors, continued to negotiate and agreed to pay for sexual acts.