Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has charged 230 suspects in a seven-day human trafficking operation and sexual predator sting for allegedly soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, or transporting prostitutes, he announced in Winter Haven.
The announcement, alongside Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, also identified twelve possible human trafficking victims who were immediately offered support by the state.
“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.”
There were over 240 predators arrested in this operation, but what is really significant is the collective 650+ prior charges among these criminals.
The brutal murder in North Carolina by a man who was arrested 14 times is unacceptable.
Soft-on-crime policies do not work! pic.twitter.com/ruUEFp8nYp
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) September 19, 2025
According to the investigation, the 7-day operation by law enforcement used social media and escort-hiring platforms to make contact with the defendants. The investigation also uncovered that many of the defendants had prior criminal histories, with 296 felonies and 348 misdemeanors combined.
Of the 230 suspects, 46 are illegal aliens from Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba, Brazil, Colombia, and the Bahamas.
Uthmeier's office said 111 defendants will be charged with felony traveling to commit prostitution, 98 for misdemeanor soliciting prostitution, and 20 for felony aiding/abetting, transporting, or deriving proceeds from prostitutes.
Along with Uthmeier's Office of Statewide Prosecution, the investigation was assisted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division.
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Auburndale PD, Bartow PD, Davenport PD, Haines City PD, Lake Wales PD, Winter Haven PD, Zephyrhills PD, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, and State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit Brian Haas also collaborated in the investigation.
"The online prostitution industry enables and empowers human traffickers, allowing them to profit off the people they exploit," Judd said. "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."
