POLK COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A weeklong undercover operation called “Polk Around & Find Out II” led to 281 arrests in Polk County, including 17 people who worked at theme parks, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office said Friday. The operation targeted child predators and human trafficking and resulted in 488 new charges, including 198 felonies.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office ran two stings at the same time: one targeting adults seeking sex with children and another focused on human trafficking. Sheriff Grady Judd called it the largest undercover operation his office has conducted.
At the news conference, Judd said investigators found 31 people who traveled to meet a child for sex, while attorney general’s office counted 32 arrests in the traveler sting. The release said the separate trafficking sting led to 249 arrests, including 117 alleged sex buyers and 122 people arrested for prostitution
Two other suspects were charged with human trafficking in connection with the child predator investigation, the sheriff’s office said. Detectives accused Derrick Opitz, 27, of offering a child’s guardian $500, and Odlanier Marrero Rodriguez, 22, of offering marijuana in exchange for sex with a child.
Uthmeier’s office said those arrested had 798 prior charges, including 358 felonies. Nine were on probation, and nine had been arrested in earlier sheriff’s office stings. Authorities said 24 suspects brought firearms to the operation, while 32 people were charged with drug possession.
Of the 17 theme park employees arrested, 13 worked for Disney and four for Universal, Judd said. He said Disney told investigators it had fired the employees.
Among the 31 child predator arrests, the sheriff’s office highlighted Rashion Crayton, 31, of Bartow, whom it identified as a youth football coach. Detectives said Crayton exchanged explicit messages with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl and arrived at the meeting location with lubricant and sex toys. He faces charges including traveling to meet a minor and attempted lewd or lascivious battery, the department said.
The sheriff’s office said several suspects told detectives they worked at theme parks. Adam Snyder, 24, of Champions Gate, said he worked in Toy Story Land at Disney World; investigators found part of his uniform and his Disney ID in his vehicle, according to the release. Snyder was among the 31 people accused of traveling to meet a child for sex.
Uthmeier said his office would pursue the cases and seek significant penalties. “We need our judges to take this seriously,” he said, arguing that repeat offenders can pose a risk if they are released early or receive light sentences. He said prosecutors would review defendants’ records and pursue additional charges when warranted.
The operation also included services for people who may have been trafficked. Judd said partner organizations identified 11 possible victims. One More Child’s senior director of anti-trafficking operations, Saine Dressler, said the group spoke with 93 people, supported them through initial court appearances and continued outreach through jail visits. Eighteen had agreed to receive services so far, she said.
Stacy Ham, a survivor who works with One More Child, said identifying possible exploitation is only one part of the response. People also need long-term support, including housing and accessible services, she said. “Behind every number is a person, a story and someone that deserves to be seen, valued and heard,” Ham said.
The operation involved local, state and federal agencies. David Gritte, an acting deputy field office director with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said officers interviewed more than 65 foreign-born people encountered during the operation and placed more than 30 immigration detainers. The attorney general said 32 people arrested were in the country illegally and 16 had been turned over to ICE.
CBS News12 Orlando
