POLK COUNTY, Florida — A seven-day undercover operation in Central Florida ended with 281 arrests, including 17 people who told detectives they work at theme parks or resorts, among them employees of Disney World and Universal Studios, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff Grady Judd announced the results of the operation, called “Polk Around and Find Out II,” on Friday, October 30. He called it the largest undercover operation his office has ever run. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined him at the announcement and pledged to prosecute the cases.
How the 281 arrests break down
The operation ran two stings at the same time — one aimed at adults trying to meet children for sex, and one aimed at the sex trade that feeds human trafficking. According to the sheriff’s office:
- 31 arrests were of alleged child sexual predators who, detectives say, talked online with people they believed were children or the guardians of children, then traveled to meet them.
- 239 arrests were tied to prostitution — soliciting, offering to commit prostitution, or aiding and transporting others.
- 11 arrests were for other offenses.
- Together, the suspects face 488 charges: 198 felonies and 290 misdemeanors.
Theme park workers among those arrested
Seventeen of the suspects told detectives they work at local theme parks or resorts, including Disney World and Universal Studios. Sheriff Judd said 13 worked for Disney and four for Universal. Seven of the 17 were arrested in the child predator part of the operation.
One of them, 24-year-old Collin Klaco of Clermont, told detectives he used to dress up as Mickey Mouse at Disney World. The sheriff’s office says he exchanged messages with an undercover detective who was posing as the guardian of a 13-year-old boy, then drove to the meeting place, where he was arrested.
Judd said Disney told investigators it had fired the arrested employees. Local television reports said Universal also fired the workers who were arrested. There is no allegation that either company was involved in the suspected crimes.
Others arrested include a deputy and a coach
The arrests were not limited to theme park workers. They also included Eric Raymond, a 40-year-old Orange County sheriff’s deputy who works as a school resource deputy at an elementary school. He was arrested on a charge of soliciting a prostitute. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said he has been relieved of law enforcement duties while his case moves forward.
Detectives also arrested a children’s football and cheerleading coach and a U.S. Navy petty officer in the child predator part of the operation.
11 trafficking victims identified
Detectives and social service workers screened the 122 people who had traveled to sell sex, looking for signs that they were being trafficked or exploited. Eleven human trafficking victims were identified. Everyone who was screened was offered help and services on the spot.
“This is why it’s critically important that parents continually monitor not only their children’s online activities, but also to know who the adults are in your children’s lives,” Judd said.
All of the arrests are allegations. None of the suspects has been convicted, and their cases will now go through the courts.
Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office, October 30, 2026.
