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17 theme park workers among 281 arrested during undercover operation
KY3 • • general
Key Points:
- A seven-day undercover operation in Polk County, Florida, named "Polk Around & Find Out II," led to 281 arrests and 488 new charges, including 198 felonies related to unlawful sexual activity with children and commercial sex.
- Among those arrested, 17 were theme park employees, with Disney confirming it fired involved staff, while Universal had not provided employment updates; suspects hailed from Polk County, other U.S. states, and 18 countries.
- Authorities reported that 32 arrested individuals were in the U.S. unlawfully, with 16 transferred to ICE custody, which placed detainers on over 30 foreign-born suspects identified as removable under immigration law.
- The nonprofit One More Child collaborated with law enforcement, engaging 93 people and identifying 11 potential human trafficking victims, emphasizing the challenges victims face in accepting help.
- Investigations continue, including a review of possible additional child victims linked to a youth football coach arrested during the operation.
