Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces 281 Arrests in Undercover Operation Targeting Child Predators and Human Trafficking

Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Attorney General James Uthmeier and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced 281 arrests in a seven-day, multi-agency undercover operation targeting child predators and human trafficking. Those arrested face 488 new charges, including 198 felonies.

"Predators who target Florida's children will be hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "Those who came to Polk County expecting to sexually abuse a child, found cuffs instead. Thanks you our law enforcement partners and prosecutors who put the time into this operation and put these predators behind bars where they belong."

"These predators are out there, online, trying to groom and violate our children," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "Last week we found and charged 31 child sex predators. The things that these predators say to children are vile, disgusting, and not fit for anyone except trained detectives to read. And even seasoned, trained detectives are repulsed. These predators need to be locked up and stay locked up and away from children. I ask parents to please be involved with their children and monitor their online activity. We cannot prevent predators from reaching out to our children, but we can educate our children and be proactive in catching a predator before they are able to groom or violate our kids."

Operation Polk Around & Find Out II, led by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, ran two undercover stings at once. A traveler sting targeting adults who set out to meet children for sex led to 32 arrests. A human trafficking sting led to 249 more, including 117 sex buyers and 122 people arrested for prostitution.

Together, those arrested had already racked up 798 prior charges, 358 of them felonies. Nine were on probation for offenses ranging from bank robbery to cruelty toward a child, and nine had been caught in earlier Sheriff's Office stings, two of them in the first Polk Around & Find Out earlier this year. Suspects brought 24 guns to the operation, and 32 were charged with drug possession, including methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl.

Thirty-two of those arrested are illegal aliens from countries including Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico and Haiti. Sixteen have already been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Only 40 of those arrested live in Polk County. The rest came from across Florida, 20 other states and 18 countries. They included 17 theme park employees.

Traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity is a second-degree felony under section 847.0135(4), Florida Statutes, punishable by up to 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office led the operation with the Auburndale Police Department, Bartow Police Department, Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Davenport Police Department, Florida Department of Financial Services, Hardee County Sheriff's Office, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Lake City Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, Marion County Sheriff's Office, Osceola County Sheriff's Office, the Office of Statewide Prosecution, State Attorney's Office for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division. One More Child and the Florida Department of Children and Families supported victims.

Since Attorney General Uthmeier took office in February 2025, more than 2,300 child predators have been arrested. This operation is part of Florida's ongoing effort to protect children and hold those who exploit them accountable.

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