POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – A Polk County operation focused on human trafficking resulted in the arrest of 157 people, including 25 illegal immigrants.
Sheriff Grady Judd of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference Thursday to provide details of a five-day, multi-agency undercover investigation dubbed “Operation Autumn Sweep.” Crimes include solicitation of prostitutes, persons offering to prostitute, and other persons who commit crimes related to prostitution. (Related: Operation Safe Summer: 20th suspect arrested for sex crimes involving minors)
“The approach of Hurricane Milton caused us to close the investigation earlier than planned, but we were able to put 157 people behind bars and three child predators behind bars in such a short period of time. Still, it is surprising that 16 percent of the suspects we arrest are in the United States illegally,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a press release.
The illegal immigrants are from Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Venezuela.
Three of the suspects were Disney World employees.
A total of 35 felonies and 201 misdemeanors were handed down, and the arrestee’s criminal history totaled 327 felonies and 455 misdemeanors, according to PCSO.
PCSO detectives include Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Auburndale Police Department, Clermont Police Department, Davenport Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, St. Cloud Police Department, Tampa Police Department, Detectives from the Winter Haven Police Department attended. , Winter Haven Fire Department.
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