😨 They worked at world-famous theme parks, coached young athletes, and served in law enforcement. But when Florida investigators revealed the results of a mᴀssive seven-day undercover operation, some of the people arrested came from professions that families depend on and trust.

POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA — A sweeping undercover investigation resulted in 281 arrests and 488 new criminal charges, including 198 felonies, authorities announced on October 30, 2026.

The operation, named Polk Around & Find Out II, targeted suspected child exploitation, prosтιтution-related offenses, and human trafficking.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described it as the largest undercover operation his department had conducted.

Among those arrested were 13 Walt Disney World employees, four Universal Orlando employees, a youth football coach, and an Orange County sheriff’s deputy.

🔎 How Detectives Carried Out the Seven-Day Operation

Investigators ran two undercover investigations simultaneously.

In one, detectives posed online as minors or people arranging unlawful encounters with children. Suspects allegedly communicated with undercover officers before traveling to arranged meeting locations.

The other investigation targeted commercial Sєx activity. Detectives used undercover advertisements and monitored individuals who arranged meetings.

Authorities reported 239 prosтιтution-related arrests, 31 arrests involving suspected child predators, and 11 other arrests.

The investigation involved local police departments, state agencies, federal authorities, and organizations supporting possible trafficking victims.

🎢 Were Any Crimes Committed Inside Disney World?

The arrests attracted enormous attention because 17 suspects were employed by major Orlando-area theme parks.

However, the reported operation was conducted through undercover investigations in Polk County—not as a raid inside Disney World or Universal Orlando.

Employment at a theme park does not establish that the alleged conduct occurred inside the park or involved visitors.

Authorities said seven theme park workers were among those arrested in connection with alleged offenses involving minors.

⚠️ A Youth Coach and Sheriff’s Deputy Among Those Arrested

One suspect was a youth football coach with the Davenport тιтans, a team serving children between 11 and 14 years old.

Investigators said he believed he was arranging to meet a 14-year-old girl, but he was communicating with an undercover detective.

Authorities are now examining whether any other children may have been affected.

Another suspect, Orange County deputy Eric Raymond, was arrested on a prosтιтution-solicitation charge.

Investigators also described the arrest of a former Disney character performer, who allegedly arrived for an arranged encounter with an undercover officer posing in connection with a minor.

💔 Eleven Possible Human Trafficking Victims Identified

One of the investigation’s most important findings concerned people who may have been experiencing exploitation.

Working with social service organizations, detectives screened individuals encountered during the operation for signs of trafficking.

The nonprofit One More Child reported identifying 11 possible trafficking victims.

Its representatives contacted 93 people, and 18 agreed to receive support services.

These findings highlight an important distinction: not everyone encountered in a prosтιтution-related investigation is necessarily a willing participant. Some may be victims who need protection and ᴀssistance.

🔎 What Happened to the Theme Park Employees?

Sheriff Judd said Disney cooperated with investigators and dismissed employees connected to the arrests.

FOX’s October 30 coverage also reported that Universal had dismissed its employees involved in the operation.

The arrests do not establish that either theme park company participated in the alleged offenses.

The criminal cases remain subject to prosecution, and those accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

What Happens Next?

Prosecutors will evaluate the individual charges, while detectives continue investigating whether additional victims can be identified.

The operation has drawn nationwide attention not only because of the number of arrests, but because of the trusted professions represented among the suspects.

The most unsettling discovery may not be that 281 people were arrested. It is that some of those accused held positions involving children, families, and public trust.

For parents across Florida, the investigation is a reminder that protecting children requires vigilance both online and in everyday life.

Sources:

CBS News — October 31, 2026

17 Disney and Universal employees among 281 arrested in Florida sting

FOX 35 Orlando — October 30, 2026

Full investigation, arrests, employee responses and news conference video