Authorities have arrested over 230 suspects in connection with a major operation targeting human trafficking in Florida, the state’s attorney general announced Friday.
The arrests were the result of a seven-day sting dubbed “Fool Around and Find Out – Again” that used social media and escort-hiring platforms and was led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Attorney General James Uthmeier said.
The suspects are facing charges related to illegal acts related to soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, or transporting prostitutes.
In addition, 12 possible human trafficking victims were identified and offered support, Uthmeier said.
Polk county Sheriff’s Office officials said the youngest suspect is 18, while the oldest is 67. A total of 15 firearms were brought to the location by different suspects, officials said.
The suspects include 46 people who are in the country illegally from Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba, Brazil, Colombia, and the Bahamas, including five who reported that they are currently receiving financial assistance from the U.S. government, Uthmeier said.
“Human traffickers are vile predators who exploit the vulnerable, and once again, a disproportionate number of those arrested in this sting were illegal aliens,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “Here in Florida, we will not give these traffickers the opportunity to destroy more lives.”
Of those charged, 111 are facing felony charges of traveling to commit prostitution, 20 are charged with with felony aiding/abetting, transporting, or deriving proceeds from prostitutes, and 99 are charged with misdemeanor soliciting prostitution.
The “vast majority” of the suspects are repeat offenders, with a combined total of 296 felonies and 348 misdemeanors in their prior criminal histories, Uthmeier said.
The investigation involved a number of local and state law enforcement organizations along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division.
“The online prostitution industry enables and empowers human traffickers, allowing them to profit off the people they exploit,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “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. Prostitution is not a victimless crime – it results in human exploitation, misery, disease, dysfunction, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, and broken families.”
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