Disney employee among 157 nabbed in Polk County human trafficking bust: Grady Judd

Disney employee among 157 nabbed in Polk County human trafficking bust

FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - More than 150 people, including a Disney employee and 25 illegal immigrants, have been arrested in an undercover human trafficking sweep in Polk County that also led to the rescue of four potential human trafficking victims.

Dubbed ‘Operation Autumn Sweep’, the five-day, multi-agency investigation led to the arrest of 157 suspects who solicited prostitutes and those who offered to commit prostitution, and other suspects who committed crimes related to prostitution.

Grady Judd: Disney employee busted in human trafficking sting

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd gives an update on a human trafficking bust that led to the arrests of 157 people, including a Disney employee.

Of those arrested, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says 47 were prostitutes, 96 were Johns, 1 was a human trafficker and 14 are facing other charges.

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He added that the oldest John was 61 and the youngest was 15.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd holds up a board with mugshots on it from a human trafficking bust.

According to Judd, those arrested had 327 prior felony charges and 400 misdemeanor charges.

Judd added that two of the potential human trafficking victims were in the country illegally and had to turn 20 ‘tricks’ a day to pay off the person who brought them into the United States. If they did not comply, Judd said that their human trafficker would slap and choke them.

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The sheriff pointed out that 26 arrested were married and several were engaged. He said that one was a Disney employee who worked as a custodian at the theme park.

Mugshots of those arrested during 'Operation Autumn Sweep'. Image is courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, three additional suspects were arrested for soliciting who they thought were children online, and charged with traveling to meet a minor, attempted lewd and lascivious battery on a minor, and use of a computer to seduce a child.

Investigators say one of those suspects works at Disney World, one is in Florida for work and out on bond for the same charges in another state (soliciting a child online); and the third is in the country illegally.

The four potential human trafficking victims are receiving help from the organization One More Child, a ministry in Lakeland that offers advocacy, mental health counseling and experienced mentorship for survivors.

The organization is in full support of a bill that will be introduced into the legislature called the Human Trafficking Reduction Act, which would make first-time buyers a felony. Right now, this is a misdemeanor in the state of Florida.

"The trauma that is caused by being able to purchase a person's body and do whatever you want to it is far too catastrophic, and the resources expended by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and other agencies is far too much," said Jodi Domangue, the vice president of program operations at One More Child.

"If you're thinking we're out here just going after people looking for prostitutes, and we could be doing other things – ask yourself, if it was your son or daughter who was being victimized," said Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez.

Also in the crowd during the press conference, a survivor who is now a mentor at One More Child and who shared her personal story to better serve other survivors.

"The scars from my past serve as a reminder that not only did I experience a difficult situation, but I made it through," said Christina Santiago. "Scars are not only a sign of trauma, but they're also a sign of healing. After all, there is no scar until the wound is closed."

Human trafficking victims are encouraged to get help by calling: