Florida human trafficking sting arrests 230 suspects; 46 from Caribbean and Latin America
Key Points(5)
- “Here in Florida, we will not give these traffickers the opportunity to destroy more lives.”</p> <p data-start="957" data-end="1441">Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the devastating impact of the industry.
- “The online prostitution industry enables and empowers human traffickers, allowing them to profit off the people they exploit.
- Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and arrest those who are fueling the exploitation of human beings,” he said.
- “Prostitution is not a victimless crime—it results in human exploitation, misery, disease, dysfunction, addiction, violence, and broken families.”</p> <p data-start="1443" data-end="1905">The operation was a coordinated effort led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the U.S.
- Department of Homeland Security, U.S.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that 230 individuals will face charges in connection with illegal activities, including soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, and transporting prostitutes.
Among those affected, twelve potential human trafficking victims were identified and immediately offered support.
“Human traffickers are vile predators who exploit the vulnerable, and once again, a disproportionate number of those arrested in this sting were illegal aliens,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “Here in Florida, we will not give these traffickers the opportunity to destroy more lives.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the devastating impact of the industry. “The online prostitution industry enables and empowers human traffickers, allowing them to profit off the people they exploit. Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and arrest those who are fueling the exploitation of human beings,” he said. “Prostitution is not a victimless crime—it results in human exploitation, misery, disease, dysfunction, addiction, violence, and broken families.”
The operation was a coordinated effort led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division, Florida Department of Financial Services, and multiple local law enforcement agencies. State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit Brian Haas and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the cases.
The seven-day sting used social media and escort-hiring platforms to engage with defendants. Many of those arrested were repeat offenders, with a combined 296 prior felonies and 348 misdemeanors.
Among those arrested, 46 were undocumented immigrants from countries including Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba, Brazil, Colombia, and the Bahamas. Five of these individuals reported receiving financial assistance from the U.S. government.
The charges include:
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111 with felony traveling to commit prostitution
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20 with felony aiding/abetting, transporting, or profiting from prostitution
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99 with misdemeanor soliciting prostitution
All cases will be prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, Brian Haas.
