114 Arrested In Human Trafficking Sting, Polk County Sheriff Says

WINTER HAVEN, FL — An Osceola County School Board official and 113 other people from across the state and country face criminal charges after the Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted a 6-day undercover sting. Dubbed “Operation Not So Silent Night,” the sting was meant to crackdown on human trafficking.

According to the sheriff’s office, the operation ran from Thursday, Dec. 8 to Tuesday, Dec. 13. During that time, deputies focused on people who advertised prostitution services through online ads to identify victims of human trafficking. They also targeted "johns" who responded to ads.

So far, 114 people have been arrested by undercover detectives with warrants remaining out for two other people, an email from the agency said. Of those arrested, detectives say four a possible human trafficking victims. Investigations into those cases remain active, the agency noted. People charged hail from all over Florida, including Tampa, Riverview and Orlando. A number of out-of-state residents were also charged.

During the course of the investigation, female detectives placed phony online ads offering services while male detectives responded to ads posted by others. People arrested included “johns” who traveled to have sex for money and prostitutes who offered their services, the sheriff’s office said. Two of the suspects traveled to an undercover location to have sex with minors, the agency said. Other people who were associated with the “johns” or accused prostitutes were also charged during the investigation.

"We are exceptionally pleased that we were able to potentially identify four victims of human trafficking, which is the goal of this operation,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a Thursday statement. “We are thrilled that we arrested two men who prey upon children, preventing them from doing so. We are extremely disappointed that we arrested a high-ranking official within the Osceola County School Board, whose occupation focuses on teaching and mentoring children."

The Osceola school board employee arrested is Matthew Phillips, 42, of St. Cloud. He serves as the county’s director of elementary curriculum, the sheriff's office said. Deputies say he went to an undercover location to have sex with a prostitute. He now faces offer to engage in lewdness and battery charges.

The two men who are accused of traveling to have sex with a minor are Thomas Davis, 48, of Mashpee, Massachusetts, and Oscar Gonzalez, 33, of Haines City. According to the sheriff’s office, Davis thought he was meeting with a 14-year-old girl while Gonzalez thought he was meeting with a 14-year-old boy. Both men now face multiple charges, including using a computer to seduce a child and traveling to meet a minor.

Another man, Michael Bonislawski, 40, of Davenport is accused of leaving his pregnant wife at home to meet with a prostitute. Bonislawski told detectives his wife was due the same day he showed up at the undercover location, the email said. He now faces offer to engage in lewdness charges.

For a complete list of those arrested and the charges they face, visit the sheriff's office online.

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