The Polk County Sheriff's Office and partnering agencies worked together on an undercover investigation focusing on those who travel to have sex with minors and prostitution-related offenses and arrested a total of 39 suspects.
Beginning on May 15, through May 21, undercover detectives from multiple agencies conducted a week-long undercover joint investigation. They targeted online child predators and online prostitution. One person was arrested for possession of child pornography. That included those who are prostitutes and advertise online, and those who solicited undercover detectives who posted ads posing as prostitutes.
The undercover operation included detectives and agents from the following agencies: U. Undercover detectives posted fake ads or profiles on social media platforms, websites and smart phone apps, posing as children, or as custodians of children, or as prostitutes or those soliciting prostitutes. Numerous suspects responded to the ads and proceeded to chat online with the undercover detectives. All it takes is one glance at the conversations these predators have with our undercover detectives.
They lurk in chat rooms, and online, ready to groom and violate your children. Fortunately, we've prevented at least 19 of them from doing so. The things that these predators say to children are vile, disgusting, and not fit for anyone except trained detectives to read.
And even seasoned, trained detectives are repulsed. These predators need to be locked up, and stay locked up and away from children" said Sheriff Grady Judd. Of the 39 arrested, there are a total of charges, including 95 felonies and 31 misdemeanors. The suspects solicited children who they thought were children as young as years-old for sex.
