244 Arrested in 9-Day Prostitution Sting Operation in Florida

Contact Your Elected Officials

Polk County officials say that some of the suspects allegedly engaging in human trafficking were illegal immigrants.

Officials in a Florida county announced last week that 244 suspects were arrested during a multi-day operation targeting human trafficking.

In a statement on May 16, Polk County Sheriffโ€™s officials said that the suspects arrested over nine days were allegedly โ€œinvolved in illegal acts related to soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, or aiding/abetting or transporting prostitutes.โ€

The office said that federal offices, including the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division, were involved, along with local law enforcement.

Notably, 36 people who were arrested were in the United States illegally from eight different countries: Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, and Brazil, according to the statement.

Twenty-two of the suspects said they were receiving government assistance, and 221 were traveling from outside Polk County, including people coming to Florida from 12 states. The youngest person arrested was 17, and the oldest was 70, according to the sheriffโ€™s office.

Some 93 suspects accused of traveling โ€œto commit prostitution were screened by detectives and the social services organizations to determine if they were being trafficked or exploited by others, and were offered services by the social services organizations at the operation,โ€ the sheriffโ€™s office stated, adding that four possible human trafficking victims were located.

Another 141 suspects were arrested for soliciting a prostitute, while 10 were arrested for aiding and abetting, transporting, or deriving proceeds from prostitution, according to the statement.

One suspect was actively in the military, 13 were veterans, and several were involved in the health care industry, law enforcement officials said.

โ€œSeveral suspects either left their wives or girlfriends at home,โ€ the sheriffโ€™s office stated, โ€œor the women thought their partners were at work, visiting a friend, or going to the gym.โ€

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that during the investigation, officials arrested 11 โ€œchild predators who solicited who they thought were children online in order to sexually batter them.โ€

Byย Jack Phillips

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Is Epstein Still Alive?

They told us Epstein was dead. They showed us a cell, a bed sheet, a broken hyoid bone, but what followed wasn't justice it was the biggest cover up since 9/11.

Somali Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate Condemns White โ€˜Domestic Terrorists,โ€™ Demands $400 Million For โ€˜Anti-Racismโ€™

Soon-to-be democratic socialist mayor of Minneapolis, Omar Fetah, in 2021 demanded $400 million from taxpayers to invest in โ€œanti-racismโ€ measures.

Seventy-one, But Iโ€™m Still Not Done, LEARNING!

My favorite activities in life are thinking (learning) and laughing and it's been found that a โ€œsense of humorโ€ is a sign of higher intelligence.

Good Night And Good Riddance To The Late Show

Shocking announcement that The Late Showย with Stephen Colbert will officially cease production rocked the Democratic Party, as Colbert is a staunch supporter.

Coldplay Concert Offers Us Garden of Eden Moment

Adultery is still illegal in 10 states. It was illegal in 15 states just 30 years ago. There was a time when adultery was a crime in all 50 states!

School Districts Sue Trump Admin Over $6.8 Billion Funding Freeze

School Districts Sue Trump Admin saying freeze is illegal, while the admin says some grants had been designated for left-wing causes and ideological programs.

Court Blocks Mississippi From Enforcing DEI Ban in Schools

A federal court temporarily blocked Mississippi from enforcing a law against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in educational institutions.

Robin Williamsโ€™s Eldest Son Remembers the Late Actor on His 74th Birthday: โ€˜Love You Foreverโ€™

Zak Williams, the son of late actor Robin Williams, penned a touching tribute to his father on Monday, celebrating what would have been his 74th birthday.

Pentagon Pulling 700 Marines Off LA Protest Response Mission

The Pentagon is continuing to wind down troop deployment to LA, withdrawing around 700 U.S. Marines who deployed last month in response to civil unrest.

US Reaches Trade Deals With Indonesia, Philippines

President Trump announced the US has reached a trade agreement with the Philippines that includes a 19% tariff on goods imported from Southeast Asian country.

Bessent Calls for Internal Review of Federal Reserveโ€™s Nonmonetary Policy Operations

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday called for an internal review of the Federal Reserveโ€™s nonmonetary policy operations.

Trump Orders US Exit From UNESCO, Reversing Biden-Era Reentry

US will withdraw from UNESCO by end of 2026 citing ideological differences, an anti-Israel bias and โ€œglobalistโ€ agenda out of step with U.S. foreign policy.

Philippine President Marcos to Meet With Trump for Trade Talks

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will meet with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday for bilateral talks focused on security and trade.
spot_img

Related Articles