160 people have been arrested in a multi-agency human trafficking sting in Florida. The arrests included a Disney employee and school workers.
The seven-day operation, dubbed “Fall Haul 2,” began Aug. 30. It was led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit.
The individuals arrested have been charged with a total of 52 felonies and 216 misdemeanors.
“The online prostitution industry enables traffickers and allows for the continued victimization of those who are being trafficked,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. “Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and arrest those who are fueling the exploitation of human beings (Johns) and those profiting from the exploitation of human beings.”
Those arrested include: 26 of the people arrested are married, 15 of those arrested were from other states and one was from Puerto Rico. The criminal histories of everyone arrested include 419 previous felonies and 619 prior misdemeanors.
Several were working at a school at the time of their arrest. Carlos Gonzalez is a 36-year-old math teacher employed at New Dimensions High School in Osceola County. John Layton is a non-faculty coach at West Orange High School in Orange County. According to police during the investigation Gonzalez agreed to have sex with two undercover detectives, and Layton agreed to pay for a sex act.
Disney employees were also rounded up. Guillermo Perez, 57, works for Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Samy Claude, 26, is a photographer who is often contracted by Disney both were arrested. Both men agreed to have sex with an undercover detective. Police note Claude “brought a bag of sour Skittles for the undercover detective.”
In a press conference, Judd said, “Only 16 of the 160 were from Polk County. I think the people of Polk County are about to get the message that if you come here and violate the law, we’re gonna put you in jail.”
The sheriff took time to enlighten viewers that victims of human trafficking are typically people who have endured much hardship in their personal lives.
Many of the victims “have had a really tough life and we’re trying to break the cycle,” he told reporters, as he held up a blurred photo of one of the victims who was rescued.
The victim, he said, was 10 weeks pregnant and had been taking drugs, specifically fentanyl. She was hoping and praying that she could abort the baby naturally.
“That’s the kind of sadness we see,” he said.
Florida law enforcement officers were working with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The sting also included multiple social services organizations, to provide relief services to human trafficking victims who were rescued.
