Polk County Florida police arrested 277 people which included doctors, police officers, and pharmacists during a week-long undercover sex sting, human trafficking operation, dubbed, “Operation No Tricks, No Treats” that began Oct. 10 and ran until Oct. 15, according to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
In two undisclosed locations in Polk County, beginning on Tuesday, October 10th, through Sunday, October 15th, 2017, Polk County Sheriff’s undercover detectives, along with detectives and investigators from other law enforcement agencies, conducted a week-long undercover investigation focusing on human trafficking and targeting online prostitution, and arrested 277 suspects.
Fifty-one of the arrests were for those who advertise as prostitutes online. 209 of the arrests were those who solicited undercover detectives who posted ads posing as prostitutes. Seventeen other arrests were made of those who derive proceeds from prostitution, or other offenses.
BREAKING NEWS: FBI: 60 arrested in Georgia in human trafficking investigation
The undercover operation included detectives and agents from the following agencies: Haines City P.D.; Lakeland P.D.; Lake Wales P.D., and Winter Haven P.D.; working in conjunction with members of the State Attorney’s Office.
During the operation, undercover detectives posted fictitious ads or profiles on various social media platforms, websites, and mobile phone applications, posing as prostitutes or those soliciting prostitutes. Some of the detectives responded to profiles and online ads posted by prostitutes. Despite the repeated warnings and media coverage of past operations, numerous suspects responded to the ads and drove to one of the two different undercover locations to engage in illegal prostitution.
Teamwork makes the dreamwork! We have the best law enforcement agencies in the nation, right here in #Polk County! pic.twitter.com/8EXHgqoLZR
— Polk County Sheriff ? (@PolkCoSheriff) October 17, 2017
“That’s the most we have ever arrested in the history of the sheriff’s office,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
One of the men arrested, Judd said, was a sergeant at his office. Sgt. Luis Diaz, who had been on the force for 17 years, resigned after the sting, FOX13 reported.
BREAKING: @PolkCoSheriff caught one of his Sgts. In human trafficking sting. He made a deal for $100 for sex. @WFLA pic.twitter.com/E5kyw0EXKQ
— Melissa Marino (@WFLAMelissaM) October 17, 2017
“We are absolutely embarrassed,” Judd said. “We hold our own accountable. He messed up and no longer works for the Sherriff’s Office.”
“We are committed to fighting human trafficking, by arresting those who engage in prostitution and trying to identify human trafficking victims. It’s no secret…you need to stay out of Polk County if you’re going to commit crime,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Those arrested face a total of 334 charges (36 felony, 298 misdemeanor), including human-trafficking, travelling to meet a child for sexual conduct, transmit material harmful to a minor, soliciting another for prostitution, offer to commit prostitution, transporting for prostitution, drug and paraphernalia possession, battery, violation of probation, and resisting. Those arrested already had a combined prior history of 897 charges (371 felonies, 526 misdemeanors).
215 suspects drove to Polk County from various counties across Florida; or were visiting Florida from: Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The youngest suspect arrested was 16-years old, and the oldest suspect was 74-years old.
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