Posted on 03/16/2022 5:00:19 PM PDT by infool7
The Polk County Sheriff's Office stated Wednesday that more than 100 arrests were made during a six-day human trafficking sting. "Operation March Sadness 2" started March 8, according to a press release.
Police departments in Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales and Auburndale assisted in the investigation.
According to the Sheriff's Office, detectives identified prostitutes who posted online advertisements as well as the "johns" who were seeking them out online.
Detectives also identified and investigated adults who engaged in online "sexually charged" communications with those they believed were children.
"The arrests of a human trafficker and four child predators alone makes this whole operation worthwhile," stated Sheriff Grady Judd in a press conference. "The online prostitution industry enables traffickers and victimizes those who are being trafficked. Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and find and arrest those who are profiting from the exploitation of human beings. Johns fuel the trafficking and victimization. Where there is prostitution, there is exploitation, disease, dysfunction, and broken families."
Undercover detectives communicated online with the suspects and arranged for a meetup at a location where they were arrested after their arrival.
Members of anti-trafficking organizations were on hand to speak with the prostitutes to help determine if they were human trafficking victims.
The suspects ranged in age from 17 to 67.
As Judd was talking about some of the suspects who were caught, he focused on 27-year-old Xavier Jackson, who he said worked at Disney World.
“He thought he was chatting with a 14 year old. And he sent photos of himself doing things that’s totally inappropriate,” said Judd durig a press conference on Wednesday. “… Oh, did I mention that it just happens to be a lifeguard at the Polynesian Resort for Disney? You think there’s a few children around there? That’s right. I didn’t stutter. He was a lifeguard at the Polynesian Resort for Disney and was bragging about that.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office assisted in Jackson’s arrest, who is from Orlando, Judd said.
Jackson was charged with three counts of harmful material and one count of unlawful communication.
” It was months later he quietly admitted none of the women had been trafficked”
Not what he said.
Congrats to the Sheriff and all police departments involved.
Seems like Florida is Pedo Central.
It may be due to the proximity to the border, and the availability of those exploited by traffickers.
Glad these fine LEO’s are working to clean it up.
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