POLK COUNTY, FL — A massive undercover operation targeting human trafficking and suspected child sexual predators resulted in 281 arrests across Central Florida, including employees of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, an Orange County sheriff's deputy and a youth football coach.
The seven-day investigation, dubbed "Polk Around and Find Out II," was led by the Polk County Sheriff's Office in cooperation with numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
The sheriff's office announced Friday that investigators arrested 239 people on prostitution-related offenses, 31 suspected child sexual predators and 11 others on various charges.
Authorities also identified 11 suspected human trafficking victims during the operation and connected them with organizations offering assistance.
The PCSO says 281 suspects face a combined 198 felony charges and 290 misdemeanor charges.
Among those arrested were 17 people who told investigators they worked at Central Florida theme parks or resorts, including 13 Disney employees and four Universal Studios employees.
Investigators said seven of those workers were arrested in connection with alleged child sex offenses.
The sheriff's office reported that 117 suspects traveled to an undercover location after responding to advertisements offering sexual services, while another 122 people accused of prostitution-related offenses were screened by detectives and social service organizations to determine whether they were being trafficked or exploited.
One of the more notable arrests involved Eric Raymond, 40, of Winter Garden, an Orange County sheriff's deputy who authorities said was assigned as a school resource officer at Independence Elementary School.
Investigators said Raymond responded to an online advertisement posted by an undercover detective and agreed to pay $110 to have unprotected sex during a "quick visit." .
He was subsequently arrested and charged with soliciting prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina told reporters that Raymond had been relieved of his law enforcement duties and reassigned to administrative work pending the outcome of the case.
Investigators then said another suspect, Rashion Crayton, 31, of Bartow, was identified as the head coach of the Davenport Titans, a youth football team serving children between the ages of 11 and 14.
Investigators said Crayton exchanged sexually explicit messages with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl before traveling to a designated meeting location, where he was arrested.
Crayton faces multiple felony charges, including traveling to meet a minor, using a computer to seduce a child and attempted lewd or lascivious battery on a minor.
Authorities also arrested Dang Thai, 24, an active-duty Navy petty officer stationed in Jacksonville, who allegedly communicated with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl and arranged to meet her for sex.
Two other suspects, Derrick Opitz, 27, of Merritt Island, and Odlanier Marrero Rodriguez, 22, of Kissimmee, were charged with human trafficking after allegedly offering money or drugs to people they believed were guardians of children in exchange for sexual access to minors.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the operation underscored the importance of monitoring children's online interactions and knowing the adults involved in their lives.
"This is why we conduct these types of undercover operations," Judd said. "During this investigation, we arrested 7 predators who work at local theme parks, and a children's football and cheerleading coach."
The investigation involved federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service, along with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's Office of Statewide Prosecution and numerous police departments and sheriff's offices throughout Central Florida.
Authorities said 32 of those arrested were in the United States illegally and came from nine countries. Another 22 suspects were reportedly receiving public assistance totaling approximately $8,373 monthly.
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