Florida police arrest 281 in weeklong child exploitation sting

Florida law enforcement agencies completed a weeklong undercover operation in Polk County that produced 281 arrests.

The initiative, named Polk Around & Find Out II, ran for seven days ending on Friday, October 30, 2026. Police focused on two main areas: adults traveling to meet children for sexual activity and commercial sex work. The effort generated 488 new charges, including 198 felonies. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated at a press conference that offenders arrived expecting to abuse children but instead found handcuffs.

The arrests spanned a wide geographic range. Only 40 of the suspects lived in Polk County. The rest came from other parts of Florida, 20 other U.S. states, and 18 countries. Officials noted that the group had 798 prior criminal charges combined. Twenty-four suspects possessed firearms, and 32 faced drug possession charges. Immigration officials reported that 32 people were in the country unlawfully. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement interviewed more than 65 foreign-born individuals and placed detainers on more than 30 people deemed removable under current law.

Seventeen of the arrested individuals worked at theme parks in the area. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Disney informed investigators that it fired the employees linked to the arrests. He noted that Universal had not yet provided an update on the status of its arrested workers.

A nonprofit organization called One More Child assisted law enforcement during the operation. The group engaged with 93 people, and 18 agreed to receive services. Officials identified 11 people they believe were victims of human trafficking. Sine Dressler, the organization's senior director of anti-trafficking operations, explained that accepting help requires trust and that many people are afraid or unsure about taking that step.

The investigation continues. Sheriff Judd said detectives are reviewing whether a youth football coach among the arrested suspects victimized additional children. Police have not closed the case.

The operation is now in its final phases as authorities process the new charges and coordinate with federal agencies.