Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd just made history with the largest human trafficking sting operation in his department’s history.
The operation exposed a disturbing reality about Joe Biden’s open border policies.
And Florida Sheriff Grady Judd just took down over 200 criminals in this one shocking operation.
Florida sheriff breaks record with massive trafficking bust
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the results of a nine-day undercover human trafficking operation that led to the arrest of 244 suspects – the highest number ever arrested during a single operation by his department.
The operation, dubbed “Fool Around and Find Out,” began on May 2 and targeted individuals involved in soliciting prostitutes, offering prostitution services, and aiding or transporting prostitutes.
“This is the highest number of suspects we’ve ever arrested during a single undercover operation – in addition to these 244 arrests, we also arrested 11 child predators who solicited who they thought were children online in order to sexually batter them,” Sheriff Judd said.
But what made this operation particularly alarming was what authorities discovered about many of the suspects.
Biden’s border crisis hits America’s heartland
Law enforcement officials identified that 36 of the suspects were in the United States illegally – coming from eight different countries including Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti, Columbia, Guatemala, and Brazil.
This represents nearly 15% of all those arrested in the operation.
The discovery underscores what many critics of the Biden-Harris administration have been saying about the connection between uncontrolled immigration and criminal activity spreading throughout the country.
Sheriff Judd emphasized the serious nature of prostitution and human trafficking by stating that “prostitution is not a victimless crime – it results in exploitation, disease, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, and broken families.”
During the operation, detectives identified four possible human trafficking victims and screened 93 suspects who traveled to commit prostitution to determine if they were being trafficked or exploited.
Operation reveals alarming details about suspects
The demographics of those arrested paint a concerning picture of how widespread this criminal network has become.
Of the 244 suspects:
- 221 were from outside Polk County, including visitors from 12 different states;
- 22 were receiving government assistance totaling $18,617 per month;
- 25 were charged with possession of narcotics;
- 8 brought firearms to the location; and
- Ages ranged from 17 to 70 years old.
The suspects’ criminal histories included a combined total of 400 felonies and 519 misdemeanors, with charges such as premeditated murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated battery, and sexual assault.
Detectives charged the suspects with a total of 102 felonies and 284 misdemeanors during the investigation.
Coordinated effort brings resources to bear
The massive operation involved coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies, showing how seriously Florida is taking the fight against human trafficking under Governor Ron DeSantis.
PCSO detectives were joined by investigators from the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division, the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, and numerous local sheriff’s offices and police departments.
Social service organizations, including One More Child and Heartland for Children, were also embedded with detectives to offer immediate assistance to trafficking victims.
Sheriff Judd made clear the purpose of these operations.
“Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and arrest those who are fueling the exploitation of human beings and those profiting from the exploitation of human beings,” he said.
The operation comes as multiple border states and interior states are dealing with the consequences of the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies, which have led to record numbers of illegal border crossings and increased criminal activity in communities nationwide.
This successful operation demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement is allowed to do its job without political interference.
