Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the arrest of 281 individuals in a seven-day child predator and human trafficking operation while speaking at a press conference in Winter Haven this week.
The two stings, known as Operation Polk Around & Find Out II, led to 32 child predator arrests and 249 human trafficking arrests, including 117 sex buyers and 122 for prostitution. Overall, the defendants face 488 new charges, including 198 felonies.
“Predators who target Florida’s children will be hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Uthmeier said in a statement. "Those who came to Polk County expecting to sexually abuse a child, found cuffs instead. Thank you to our law enforcement partners and prosecutors who put the time into this operation and put these predators behind bars where they belong.”
Today, I joined Sheriff Grady Judd to announce 281 arrests from Operation Polk Around & Find Out II, a seven-day undercover operation targeting child predators and human trafficking.
Predators who come after our children will be hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent… pic.twitter.com/rRxZJ46FYe
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) October 30, 2026
In addition, those arrested brought 24 guns to the operation and drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. Moreover, nine were on probation for crimes ranging from bank robbery to child cruelty, and nine were busted in earlier stings, including two during Polk Around & Find Out I.
Attorney General Uthmeier also indicated 32 of the defenders were illegal aliens, with 16 having already been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Those arrested included from Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico and Haiti.
Overall, the defendants had 798 prior charges, including 358 felonies.
"These predators are out there, online, trying to groom and violate our children,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “Last week we found and charged 31 child sex predators. The things that these predators say to children are vile, disgusting, and not fit for anyone except trained detectives to read. And even seasoned, trained detectives are repulsed."
"These predators need to be locked up and stay locked up and away from children," Judd continued. "I ask parents to please be involved with their children and monitor their online activity. We cannot prevent predators from reaching out to our children, but we can educate our children and be proactive in catching a predator before they are able to groom or violate our kids.”
