Polk Human Trafficking Sting Nets 213 Arrests, Rescues 24 Victims
A seven-day human trafficking investigation netted 213 arrests, including a California school board and a Tampa pizza chef accused of prostituting his girlfriend and brought along their 8-month-old baby.
“We set up shop on social media and 200 people showed up,” Judd said. “And for every one we catch, there are probably five more who didn’t show up.“
Judd said:
Five people were previously arrested by the Polk sheriff’s office during a similar undercover operation, and two of those were just arrested during the September 2022 “Operation Fall Haul II.”
Fourteen arrested are suspected of being in the country illegally (13 from Cuba and one from Mexico), and six of the 14 were identified as victims of human trafficking.
Thirty-five of those arrested told detectives they are married.
Several of those arrested have criminal histories, including violent felonies such as kidnapping, robbery, aggravated assault and sex offenses.
Twenty-two of those arrested told detectives they receive government assistance.
Detectives seized fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana from those arrested during the operation and 54 people were charged with drug violations.
Source: patch.com/
to be clear, this is not about sex slaves held against their will like Epstein island, its about prostitutes. Human trafficking is just what they call it, which is confusing
Actually, many prostitutes are only there because they were trafficked. They get them strung out on drugs, beat them if they do not comply, and break their spirit so they will not run away.
I am drawing from my LE days as well as from my wife's experience as a Child Protection Specialist. Many human trafficking rings kidnap children, both sexes, and adult women from across the globe, and move them from city to city, community to community, right under the noses of the locals. They prostitute them out, and them move on before they attract too much heat. My wife's unit was involved in a few sting operations in Texas that resulted in an intelligence breakthrough illuminating the way Human Trafficker's have been able to keep a few steps ahead of LE for so long. They are organized, well funded, and, above all, very adept at clandestine operations.
They are evil, and have people in office, in courts, in investigative agencies, etc., who are a part of the network. So I applaud when we get a win, and fully understand how it is directly related to human trafficking, and not just a crossover event.
This is not new, either. I was involved in counter-terrorist operations in Germany in the 80's in the US Military. Guess where some of the funding came from for Abu Nidal, the Red Army Faction, and others?
Yea I'm rejoicing about it too, just being technical. Wish they'd call it prostitution sting but I guess that's less explosive of a headline and the news needs to get out. But I do agree with your points
Polk Human Trafficking Sting Nets 213 Arrests, Rescues 24 Victims
A seven-day human trafficking investigation netted 213 arrests, including a California school board and a Tampa pizza chef accused of prostituting his girlfriend and brought along their 8-month-old baby. “We set up shop on social media and 200 people showed up,” Judd said. “And for every one we catch, there are probably five more who didn’t show up.“ Judd said: Five people were previously arrested by the Polk sheriff’s office during a similar undercover operation, and two of those were just arrested during the September 2022 “Operation Fall Haul II.” Fourteen arrested are suspected of being in the country illegally (13 from Cuba and one from Mexico), and six of the 14 were identified as victims of human trafficking. Thirty-five of those arrested told detectives they are married. Several of those arrested have criminal histories, including violent felonies such as kidnapping, robbery, aggravated assault and sex offenses. Twenty-two of those arrested told detectives they receive government assistance. Detectives seized fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana from those arrested during the operation and 54 people were charged with drug violations. Source: patch.com/
video
https://www.wfla.com/video/213-arrested-in-polk-county-human-trafficking-sting/8396567/
He has claimed there are always Disney Employees in every pedo ring he busts, I wonder did that hold true in this, his biggest bust ever?
The Annual Disney Dragnet -- Tradition For At LEAST Twelve Years!
WTF. Good job, Sheriff Grady Judd taking out the trash
It would sure be nice if more cities & states did these stings & cleaned up the trash around us.
This is great news and more needs to come..... I just wonder when the low lying fruit ever produces the higher fruit. We want this tree picked clean.
Notice how it’s always Sherrifs doing the good work these days…
to be clear, this is not about sex slaves held against their will like Epstein island, its about prostitutes. Human trafficking is just what they call it, which is confusing
Actually, many prostitutes are only there because they were trafficked. They get them strung out on drugs, beat them if they do not comply, and break their spirit so they will not run away.
i'm sure there's crossover but the headline is explicit
I am drawing from my LE days as well as from my wife's experience as a Child Protection Specialist. Many human trafficking rings kidnap children, both sexes, and adult women from across the globe, and move them from city to city, community to community, right under the noses of the locals. They prostitute them out, and them move on before they attract too much heat. My wife's unit was involved in a few sting operations in Texas that resulted in an intelligence breakthrough illuminating the way Human Trafficker's have been able to keep a few steps ahead of LE for so long. They are organized, well funded, and, above all, very adept at clandestine operations.
They are evil, and have people in office, in courts, in investigative agencies, etc., who are a part of the network. So I applaud when we get a win, and fully understand how it is directly related to human trafficking, and not just a crossover event.
This is not new, either. I was involved in counter-terrorist operations in Germany in the 80's in the US Military. Guess where some of the funding came from for Abu Nidal, the Red Army Faction, and others?
Yea I'm rejoicing about it too, just being technical. Wish they'd call it prostitution sting but I guess that's less explosive of a headline and the news needs to get out. But I do agree with your points
We love Sheriff Grady!
Polk County sex trafficking arrest -- with few exceptions -- usually means that they arrest regular hookers and johns.
Though there are a few very messed up circumstances in this article, this is really just a standard issue hooker dust up.