Florida Sheriff Busts Hundreds in Child Predator Sweep Including Theme Park Workers

Law enforcement in Florida arrested 281 people, including 17 workers from major theme parks, during a major seven-day sting targeting child predators and human trafficking.

Arrest Details

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the results on Friday, stating that 13 arrested suspects worked for Disney World and four worked for Universal Studios. Investigators revealed that 31 people traveled to the county specifically to try to have sex with a child. Among those caught were a youth sports coach, an active-duty sailor, and a former Disney employee who dressed as a Mickey Mouse character. Another Disney worker was found with their work uniform inside the car while trying to meet an undercover detective posing as a minor. Officers also found that 24 suspects brought guns to their meetings and nine were currently on probation.

Official Response

Sheriff Judd called the arrests deeply disturbing and defended the need for undercover operations. Officials noted that 32 of those arrested were undocumented immigrants, and authorities have already transferred 16 of them to federal immigration custody. Sheriff Judd added that Disney fully cooperated with the investigation and confirmed that the company has fired all involved employees.

Context

Large-scale undercover stings by local sheriff offices often use online decoy operations to catch individuals attempting to meet minors for illegal acts. Major employers frequently face public scrutiny when staff members are implicated in high-profile crimes, leading to swift terminations to distance the brand from individual misconduct.