An undercover operation in central Florida has exposed a disturbing cross-section of alleged sexual predators and traffickers, including theme-park workers, a youth football coach, and a Navy sailor, in what authorities describe as the largest sting in Polk County history.
According to the New York Post, the weeklong operation, titled Polk Around and Find Out II, resulted in 281 arrests and the rescue of 11 human-trafficking victims. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the sting targeted both child predators and those involved in prostitution and trafficking, underscoring the depth of the problem in a state already grappling with illegal immigration and crime tied to the sex trade.
Among the most shocking arrests was that of 24-year-old Colin Klaco, a former Walt Disney World Mickey Mouse impersonator. Judd said Klaco, whom he described as having his characters high spooky voice too, by the way, allegedly arrived to meet what he believed was a young boy while carrying two backpacks filled with diapers he intended to wear and put on the child, who was in fact an undercover agent.
Judd did not mince words in characterizing Klacos alleged behavior. He described Klaco as the nastiest person weve ever arrested, a stark assessment even by the standards of a department accustomed to confronting serious sex crimes.
Another suspect, Adam Snyder, was employed at the Roundup Rodeo restaurant in Disneys Toy Story Land at the time of his arrest. Authorities said Snyder was taken into custody while still in his work uniform as he allegedly attempted to have sex with a young boy.
The sheriffs office emphasized that the operation was designed to root out those who deliberately seek to exploit the vulnerable. The focus here is to go out into the underworld and look for those who want to prey upon our folks, Judd said, highlighting the proactive approach his department has taken to combating child exploitation and trafficking.
Judd reserved his harshest condemnation for 31-year-old youth football coach Rashiod Crayton, whom he labeled the worst of the worst. Craytons messages to someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl were so graphic that Judd said he could not share the details publicly.
According to Judd, Crayton told the person he thought was a minor, among other things, well, I can pick you up at school, and then we can have sex in the car. The sheriff added that Crayton acknowledged the risk of his conduct, saying, You see, weve got to be careful because just these texts will put me in jail. And then when he arrived he brought, among other things, a battery-charged sex toy, Judd said.
The sting also ensnared US Navy machinist Dang Thai, who allegedly lied about his age, claiming to be 17 when he is actually 24. After being arrested for attempting to have sex with a minor, Thai protested that he had top secret clearance, a remark that did little to sway law enforcement.
Of the 281 arrests, 117 suspects were caught by undercover agents and charged with soliciting prostitution, including an Orange County deputy. Another 122 individuals were arrested for committing acts of prostitution, reflecting a broad crackdown on both sides of the illegal sex trade.
Authorities screened those arrested for signs of coercion and trafficking, ultimately determining that 11 were victims of human trafficking. Officials said all identified victims were offered services, an acknowledgment that many caught in prostitution are themselves exploited by criminal networks.
The operation also exposed a significant illegal immigration component to the sex trade in the region. Thirty-two of those arrested were in the country illegally from nine different nations including Italy, India, Peru, Ecuador, and Haiti and 22 of them were allegedly drawing public assistance totaling more than $100,000 a year, according to the sheriffs office.
Judd confirmed that all Disney employees arrested during the sting had been terminated by the company. The sheriff also noted that four Universal employees were among those taken into custody, further underscoring the reach of the investigation into major local employers.
The personal backgrounds of the suspects painted a troubling picture of repeat offenders and broken families. Nine of those charged were on probation, 31 had prior prostitution-related charges, and 36 were married.
At least they were as of the time that they were arrested. I dont know what their significant other thinks about them today, Judd quipped, capturing both the moral gravity and the personal fallout of the alleged crimes.
As Florida continues to confront the twin challenges of illegal immigration and human trafficking, the Polk County sting underscores the importance of aggressive law enforcement and a justice system willing to confront predators head-on. For conservatives who have long warned about the consequences of lax border policies, expanding welfare rolls, and cultural decay, the operation offers a stark reminder that protecting children and communities requires both vigilance and the political will to enforce the law without apology.
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