In a nine-day undercover operation called “Fool Around and Find Out,” the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) said it arrested nearly 250 individuals for human trafficking-related offenses.

A former NFL player was among those arrested in the operation.

Officials in a Florida county announced last week that 244 suspects were arrested during a multi-day operation targeting human trafficking. pic.twitter.com/qwSeuwn6T7

— NTD News (@NTDNews) May 20, 2025

Per CBS12:

The operation, which began on May 2, targeted those soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, or aiding and abetting such activities.

“This is the highest number of suspects we’ve ever arrested during a single undercover operation.” Sheriff Grady Judd said the operation’s goal was to identify victims, offer them help, and arrest those fueling and profiting from human exploitation. “Prostitution is not a victimless crime – it results in exploitation, disease, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, and broken families.”

The operation involved multiple agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division, and several local police departments, according to the news release. Social services organizations, such as One More Child and Heartland for Children, were also involved, screening 93 suspects to determine if they were being trafficked or exploited.

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Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrests 244 in human trafficking sting, dozens in U.S. illegally, Judd sayshttps://t.co/UxdkKdBhPr

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) May 16, 2025

Florida’s Voice reports:

According to the release, 36 of the suspects were identified as being in the U.S. illegally, originating from countries including Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala and Brazil.

A total of 141 suspects were arrested for soliciting a prostitute and traveling to an undercover location to negotiate having sex in exchange for money. Ten other suspects were arrested for “aiding, abetting, transporting, or deriving proceeds from prostitutes.”

Suspects ranged in age from 17 to 70. Officials said eight firearms were brought to the scene by suspects, and 25 individuals were also charged with possession of illegal narcotics.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, in a press release, said this was the highest number of suspects they have ever arrested during a single undercover operation.

He said 11 child predators were arrested after they allegedly “solicited individuals who they thought were children online in order to sexually batter them.”

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