
By Nick Arama. Media: Redstate
The Polk County Florida) Sheriff’s Office conducted a nine-day, undercover investigation termed Operation “Fool Around and Find Out.” The operation is focused on human trafficking and prostitution arrests.
They nabbed 255 suspects, including 36 illegal aliens. Polk County worked with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security (DHS) Investigations, and multiple other local police departments. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during the press conference on Friday that about 15 percent of the total number of people arrested were in the country illegally. He detailed that among the places they came from were Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti, Colombia, and Guatemala.
“Twenty-two of these folks were receiving government assistance,” Judd said.
According to investigators, 141 were charged with soliciting prostitutes, 93 were charged with offering to commit prostitution, and 10 others were charged with crimes related to prostitution, such as aiding/abetting a prostitute or transporting a prostitute.
Sheriff Judd is certainly known for his plain-speaking manner. He’s shown on past occasions that he doesn’t hold back what he is thinking; he showed that again on Friday. He described how the suspects come from all walks of life. There is even a former NFL player among the suspects who police allege was soliciting a prostitute.
Judd explained how one suspect expressed interest in doing service hours with the Sheriff’s Office, and that the suspect was interested in becoming a detective. Judd said that he didn’t know if the guy meant it, but it didn’t matter; he was going to the county jail.
Judd said this was the highest number of suspects they had ever had in a single operation. The suspects ranged in age from 17 to 70. Judd spoke about one suspect, explaining how you think you are making a date, but things may not go as you think it will. This is, in a word, unique. Check the officer with the dark hair and mustache behind him, trying to hold it together.
Now, I would note that the suspect has only been accused so far, and has not been convicted of any crime in this matter.
Judd made the greater point that this is not a good idea to get involved in such activities in any way, and it may not end well. It especially wouldn’t end well if the police charge you, and you end up like this.
Even as Judd was describing what had happened in this operation, he had a word of warning:
At the end of the conference, Judd thanked the numerous agencies that helped the sheriff’s office with their investigation, including the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and multiple police departments in Polk County.
“A word to the wise, there’ll be another one,” Judd said. “Fool around and find out.”
Something tells me other people will soon finding out and we may hear some more words from Judd. And I wouldn’t count on him holding back.
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