HOLY SMOKES: 281 Arrested in Florida Sting, Including Disney and Universal Workers. What the Sheriff Found Is “Vile”

Florida law enforcement officials have arrested 281 people in a massive undercover operation targeting child sexual predators, prostitution, and human trafficking, including 17 workers connected to major Orlando-area theme parks, an Orange County sheriff’s deputy, a youth football coach, and an active-duty Navy service member.

The seven-day investigation, called “Polk Around and Find Out II,” was announced October 30 by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

The operation brought together multiple law enforcement agencies to investigate suspected crimes involving children, commercial sexual activity, and human trafficking across Central Florida.

Investigators reported 488 new criminal charges arising from the sting, including 198 felony charges.

The scale of the operation drew immediate attention because of the number of arrests and the employment backgrounds of several suspects.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 31 arrests involved suspected child sexual predators, while 239 were connected to prostitution-related offenses. Another 11 arrests involved other alleged offenses.

The investigation included an undercover operation in which detectives posed as minors online to identify adults suspected of attempting to arrange sexual encounters with children.

Authorities said the undercover communications led investigators to identify suspects who allegedly believed they were communicating with minors.

Some suspects allegedly traveled to designated locations expecting to meet children for unlawful sexual activity.

Sheriff Judd described the disturbing nature of the communications investigators encountered during the operation.

He stated, “The things that these predators say to children are vile, disgusting, and not fit for anyone except trained detectives to read.”

Judd also emphasized the emotional impact the investigations can have on law enforcement personnel assigned to review the communications.

He said, “And even seasoned, trained detectives are repulsed.”

The investigation’s most alarming revelations included the employment backgrounds of several suspects.

Authorities confirmed that 17 individuals arrested during the operation worked at Central Florida theme parks, including 13 associated with Walt Disney World and four with Universal Orlando.

The employment connection drew attention because these entertainment destinations attract millions of families and children from across the country.

However, the 17 theme park workers were arrested on different allegations. The total does not mean all 17 were accused of child sexual offenses.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office separately reported that seven suspected child predators were current or former Disney employees.

According to the sheriff’s office, current employees in that group were fired following their arrests.

The investigation also uncovered allegations involving individuals whose positions placed them in contact with young people.

One suspect was identified as a youth football and cheerleading coach from Davenport, Florida.

Another was an active-duty Navy sailor.

An Orange County sheriff’s deputy was also arrested during the operation, although the allegations against him involved solicitation rather than an undercover child-predator offense.

The deputy, identified as 40-year-old Eric Raymond, was accused of arranging to pay for sex.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Raymond was a member of the agency and that he had been assigned to school-resource duties before a planned transfer to uniform patrol.

His arrest brought additional scrutiny to the investigation because police officers are entrusted with enforcing the laws they are sworn to uphold.

The operation also targeted suspected commercial sexual activity involving adults.

Investigators arrested 117 individuals accused of traveling to an undercover location to purchase sexual services.

Another 122 people were arrested on prostitution-related allegations and underwent screening by detectives and social service organizations.

Those screenings helped investigators identify 11 people authorities classified as human trafficking victims.

The identified victims were offered assistance through available support organizations.

The distinction between trafficking victims and criminal suspects remains important because individuals involved in commercial sexual activity may themselves be subject to coercion or exploitation.

Investigators also reported encountering 32 individuals whom authorities identified as unlawfully present in the United States.

Those individuals came from nine countries, according to law enforcement officials.

Federal immigration authorities participated in the broader enforcement effort, and some of the arrested individuals were transferred into immigration custody.

The sheriff’s office also reported that suspects brought 24 firearms to the operation.

Authorities identified illegal drug possession allegations involving substances that included methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.

In addition, investigators said 22 arrested individuals were receiving public assistance benefits totaling approximately $8,373 per month.

Those figures became part of the broader financial and criminal findings presented during the October 30 news conference.

The operation drew participation from local, state, and federal authorities, demonstrating the coordination involved in conducting undercover investigations across multiple jurisdictions.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined Sheriff Judd in publicly announcing the results.

The arrests also followed earlier large-scale Polk County operations directed at suspected human trafficking and sexual offenses.

The latest sting produced more arrests than the department’s May 2026 operation, which resulted in 266 arrests.

The increase reflects the size of the latest enforcement effort, although arrest counts alone do not establish changes in the prevalence of these crimes.

Sheriff Judd urged parents to remain involved in their children’s online activities, warning that predators can use digital communications to approach minors.

He stated, “We cannot prevent predators from reaching out to our children, but we can educate our children to be proactive in catching a predator before they are able to groom or violate our kids.”

The sheriff also called for the suspects to face appropriate consequences if convicted.