The Polk County, Florida, Sheriff's Office has arrested approximately 160 suspected human traffickers, including 25 illegal aliens from Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Venezuela, including cases involving children.
The sting operation, known as Operation Autumn Sweep, began at the beginning of the month and eventually arrest 157 of those accused of soliciting prostitutes, offering to prostitute, or aiding and abetting prostitutes.
Three of the suspects are suspected of being involved in traveling for the purpose of sexually assaulting minors.
Meanwhile, 25 of the suspects are illegal aliens, 26 are married, nine are receiving government assistance from taxpayers, and 131 of the suspects are from outside Polk County, Florida. Three were active military or veterans, and three worked at Disney World.
Press Conference – Autumn Clearance Operation (October 17, 2024)
Sheriff Grady Judd is providing details about Operation Autumn Sweep, a five-day undercover multi-agency investigation focused on human trafficking. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 157 suspects who solicited prostitutes and offered prostitution. Of those arrested, four human trafficking victims were identified and provided services, and one suspect was charged with felony human trafficking. Of the 157 people arrested, 25 are illegal immigrants. Three more suspects were arrested. He was arrested for soliciting someone he believed to be a child online and charged with traveling to meet a minor, attempted lewd and lascivious assault on a minor, and using a computer to entice a child. . One of the suspects works at Disney World. One is in Florida for work and is out on bond in another state for the same crime (online solicitation of a child). The third person is an illegal immigrant. Click here to read the release: https://tinyurl.com/3vj4p4sa
Posted by Polk County Sheriff's Office Thursday, October 17, 2024
The oldest suspect arrested is 61 years old, and the youngest suspect is 15 years old.
Sheriff Grady Judd said, “While the investigation was completed ahead of schedule due to the approach of Hurricane Milton, it is amazing that we were able to put 157 people behind bars and three child predators behind bars in such a short period of time.'' ” he said.
“Sixteen percent of the suspects we apprehend are in the country illegally, but were provided free medical care, food, travel, and housing as a compliment to U.S. taxpayers. Meanwhile, hurricane victims are now We are waiting and praying for help,” Judd said.
Polk County Sheriff's Office
One of the illegal immigrants arrested was Ezequiel Mejia, 30, from Mexico, who first came to the United States about 10 years ago. Police said Mejia sent a message on social media to an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl at the time.
Police allege that Mejia told the undercover officer that he wanted to be his girlfriend, but that if he did something he could get into “very big trouble.” Police said Mejia drove to a secret location to meet someone he believed to be the girl and brought condoms with him.
Mejia told police he had a wife and a 7-year-old daughter. He is charged with traveling to meet a minor, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, attempted lewd assault on a minor, and resisting arrest.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Please email jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter here.
