Four Disney employees were among more than 100 people arrested on charges of human trafficking in Florida this week.
QUICK FACTS:
- The Polk County sheriff said Wednesday that over 100 people were arrested in a prostitution and human trafficking operation, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
- “Operation March Sadness 2,” which began on March 8, was a six-day undercover sting that allowed detectives to identify prostitutes who posted online advertisements as well as the “johns” seeking their attention, the Polk Sheriff website stated.
- “The arrests of a human trafficker and four child predators alone makes this whole operation worthwhile. The on-line prostitution industry enables traffickers and victimizes those who are being trafficked, Sheriff Grady Judd said. “Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and find and arrest those who are profiting from the exploitation of human beings. Johns fuel the trafficking and victimization. Where there is prostitution, there is exploitation, disease, dysfunction, and broken families.”
FLORIDA SHERIFF ON THE DISNEY EMPLOYEES ARRESTS:
“Four arrests of this magnitude in a week is simply remarkable.”
BACKGROUND:
- Among the Disney employees was a 27-year-old male who worked as a lifeguard at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, as well as a 24-year-old male who worked at the Cosmic Restaurant, Sheriff Judd said.
- The remaining two were a 45-year-old IT worker and a 27-year-old software developer.
- Undercover detectives communicated online with the suspects and planned to meet at a location where they were arrested after they arrived, according to Judd.
- The Walt Disney Company has not yet issued a statement on the employees’ arrests.
