“Polk Around and Find Out”: 266 Arrested in Massive Polk County Human Trafficking and Child Predator Operation
Polk Around and Find Out: 266 Arrested in Massive Polk County Human Trafficking and Child Predator Operation
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced on May 1 that a multi-day joint-agency undercover operation resulted in 266 arrests involving child predators, human trafficking and prostitution-related offenses. The operation was named “Polk Around and Find Out.”
Of the 266 arrests, 19 involved felony charges related to traveling to meet a minor for sex and similar offenses targeting children. The remaining 247 arrests stemmed from the prostitution and human trafficking portion of the investigation, which resulted in 108 suspects being charged with soliciting a prostitute and 12 others charged with aiding, abetting, transporting or deriving proceeds from prostitutes.
PCSO detectives were joined by investigators from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the State Attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit, and law enforcement agencies from Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Hardee County, Highlands County, Lake County and San Francisco. Staff from the Florida Department of Children and Families, One More Child, Heartland for Children and the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking were also embedded with investigators throughout the operation.
Seven possible human trafficking victims were identified during the operation and were offered services by the participating social services organizations. Of the 266 people arrested, 167 were from outside Polk County, representing 11 states and 18 countries. Thirty-four individuals were in the country illegally. Twenty-two reported receiving government assistance. Four firearms were brought to the undercover location by different suspects, and 21 people were charged with possession of narcotics.
Two suspects arrived at the undercover location accompanied by children after agreeing to pay an undercover detective posing as a prostitute for sex. Both were charged with child neglect. One suspect who was arrested and released on bond continued to advertise her services and was arrested a second time after traveling to an undercover location.
A total of 439 charges were filed during the operation, consisting of 298 felonies and 141 misdemeanors. The combined prior criminal histories of all suspects included more than 1,000 charges before this operation began.
As of the date of publication, no additional press releases or court updates are available for this case.All individuals named in this report are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office press release, May 1, 2026
To report human trafficking or child exploitation in Polk County: PCSO 863-298-6200
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org
