Polk County Arrests 255 in Undercover Human Trafficking, Prostitution Operation

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the conclusion of Operation "Fool Around and Find Out," a nine-day undercover investigation targeting human trafficking, child predators, prostitution, and illegal immigration. The operation resulted in 255 arrests, the highest number ever recorded in a single operation by the sheriff's office, including 36 individuals who were in the U.S. illegally from countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Guatemala. Of those arrested, 141 were charged with soliciting prostitutes, 93 with offering to commit prostitution, and 11 with child-sex-related crimes, including traveling to meet minors for sex. The youngest suspect was 17, and the oldest was 70; among the arrested was former NFL linebacker Adarius Taylor, charged with negligent child abuse and soliciting prostitution. The multi-agency effort involved cooperation with ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division, state prosecutors, and multiple local law enforcement agencies. Four potential human trafficking victims were identified, and support services are being provided to them.