Polk Prostitution Sting Nets 154 Arrests

LAKELAND, FL — A prostitution sting has netted a total of 154 arrests, including alleged pimps, prostitutes and potential purchasers of sex, the Polk County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.

"Our goal here is to identify and stop human trafficking," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, speaking to reporters at a news conference.

The six-day undercover sting investigation was dubbed Operation No Spring Fling. Detectives posted ads soliciting prostitution and responded to ads placed by others who were soliciting prostitution, according to the sheriff's office.

Judd described two of those arrested as child predators. "If we had not made another arrest in the six days with the resources that we used, the fact that we got those two child sexual predators would have made it a grand slam week," he said.

The operation began on May 14 and wrapped up on Sunday. A 17-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman were identified as likely victims of human trafficking as was a 17-year-old boy. All three have been offered services with the One More Child organization. The Florida Department of Children and Families has also been contacted.

Among those arrested in the operation were an Army staff sergeant and recruiter from Panama City who was visiting LEGOLAND with his wife and children, a custodian at Kathleen High School Aerospace Academy as well as a before and after-school child care worker at North Short Elementary School in Pinellas County, the sheriff's office said.

Those arrested range in age between 17 and 69. In all, the sheriff's office filed a total of 46 felony charges and 202 misdemeanor charges against the defendants.

Of the 154 arrested:

• 69 were allegedly prostitutes
• 75 allegedly solicited to pay for prostitution
• eight others were arrested for related charges, such as deriving proceeds from prostitution
• two were arrested for allegedly traveling to meet a minor
• 30 of the 154 are married.

One of the people arrested was a 34-year-old man from Tampa who allegedly sent texts to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy. The man maintained that he was disease free and wanted to have unprotected anal sex with the boy.

The man allegedly told detectives later that he has HIV, according to the sheriff's office. He was charged with traveling to meet a minor as well as misrepresenting age via computer to lure a minor, lewd battery, failure to notify of HIV and use of two-way communication to lure a minor.

In addition to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the investigation included assistance from the Lakeland, Winter Haven and Haines City Police Departments.