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A multi-agency operation led to the arrest of 246 people on charges ranging from human trafficking to using a computer to seduce a child.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd reported the arrest of 246 individuals in a week-long undercover operation called “Fool around and Find Out – Again.”
During a Friday news briefing, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined the sheriff to share information about the operation primarily targeting human trafficking, child predators, and illegal immigration issues.
This was a follow-up to the investigation back in May, in which deputies arrested more than 200 people, including a former Bucs player.
Judd said two of the people arrested in the first investigation were arrested again.
“Clearly, they’re not using their minds wisely. They used one thought on the first and another on the second, leaving them with none now,” the sheriff remarked at the Friday morning press conference.
The investigation involved cooperation between Polk County deputies, federal officials, and other local law enforcement agencies, resulting in 89 felony and 282 misdemeanor charges.
Authorities stated that 99 individuals faced charges for soliciting prostitution, among them a recruit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, over 100 were accused of intending to engage in prostitution, and 15 were apprehended for traveling to meet with minors for sexual activities or related offenses.
“Human traffickers are despicable predators who prey on the vulnerable, and once more, a significant number of those arrested in this operation were undocumented immigrants,” commented Attorney General James Uthmeier. “In Florida, we are committed to preventing these traffickers from causing further harm.”
Here are the 15 men who were arrested during the sexual predator investigation:
- Alberto Gonzalez Torres (48)
- Louie Macalinao (62)
- Anthony Ramos, Jr. (33)
- Cameron Francis (30)
- Hugo Dos Santos (39)
- Jamal Jones (30)
- Alier Aponte Rosa (51)
- Trey Taunton (40)
- Bharat Baichan (33)
- Daniel Napoline (42)
- Spencer Englehardt (26)
- Detraun Vaughan (23)
- Christopher Williams (31)
- Jerry Siniard (50)
- Robert Vincent Hill II (56)
Deputies said these suspects communicated with and solicited people they thought were children or guardians of children online. According to investigators, 14 of them showed up at an undercover location to sexually batter children. Three offered to pay an adult to have sex with their child, according to a news release.
“Prostitution is not a victimless crime – it results in human exploitation, misery, disease, dysfunction, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, and broken families,” Judd said.
Detectives also identified 10 victims of human trafficking through the investigation. They were connected to social service organizations such as One More Child, My Name My Voice and Heartland for Children for support.
Officials said 46 of the people arrested were living in the United States illegally from countries such as the Bahamas, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.
Law enforcement is still looking for a man named Kyle Mullen, 36, who is accused of soliciting an undercover detective posing as a 12-year-old girl online. Deputies said Mullen sent a nude photo and is being charged with felony transmission of material harmful to a minor and felony use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
You can watch the full news conference below:
