Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced Friday that a multi-agency undercover operation has resulted in 266 arrests related to prostitution, human trafficking, and crimes against children in central Florida.
The operation, conducted over several days and designated “Polk Around and Find Out,” brought together multiple law enforcement agencies to address what Sheriff Judd characterized as serious and violent criminal activity. Of the total arrests, approximately 247 were connected to human trafficking operations.
The arrested individuals came from 11 states and 18 different countries, according to the sheriff’s office. Collectively, those arrested had accumulated 1,028 previous criminal charges before this operation added 439 additional charges.
“People that think this is low-level and not violent are wrong. It is violent, and it is dangerous,” Sheriff Judd stated during a news conference Friday.
The sheriff highlighted several cases to illustrate the scope of the operation. Among those arrested was Ryan Yates of Odessa, Florida, who had previously been convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot and later received a presidential pardon. Yates was arrested during this operation for violating Florida law.
“He got away with it with the federal system. But not here,” Sheriff Judd said. “He came here to violate the law. We arrested him.”
Another individual singled out was Craig Long II, 41, a Tampa-area fitness business owner who describes himself on social media as a political influencer. According to Sheriff Judd, Long had a previous felony conviction but had appeared to rehabilitate himself before this arrest.
The operation also resulted in the arrest of Uno Garcia, an illegal immigrant from Cuba, who allegedly brought his wife to engage in prostitution, according to the sheriff.
In what Sheriff Judd described as one of the more disturbing cases, Shannon Brooks of Haines City, Florida, allegedly brought a seven-year-old child into a room during a sexual encounter and left the child in a bathroom. The sheriff reported that Brooks instructed the child not to answer the phone using profane language, raising serious questions about child welfare and parental responsibility.
The operation represents a significant effort by Florida law enforcement to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children. Sheriff Judd emphasized that these crimes are far from victimless and involve serious violence and exploitation.
The multi-agency cooperation demonstrated in this operation reflects an ongoing commitment by Florida authorities to address human trafficking networks operating within the state. All those arrested will face prosecution in the Florida court system.
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