17 Disney and Universal employees among 281 arrested in Florida sex trafficking case, sheriff says

Among 281 suspects arrested during an operation to combat human trafficking and child sexual predators, 17 Disney World and Universal Studios employees were arrested, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.

Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference Friday that the joint operation, which spanned seven days, focused on arresting predators who prey on children and travel to meet them for illegal sexual activity and human trafficking.

He said 31 of the suspects traveled to the county to have sex with a child.

Judd said at the news conference that 13 of the arrested suspects were Disney employees and four were Universal employees.

“It is extremely disturbing to encounter vicious child predators like these, who are very eager to have sex with children. That is why we conduct these types of undercover operations,” Judd said in a statement.

Judd said 32 suspects were undocumented immigrants and so far 16 have been transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Additionally, he said 24 of the suspects brought firearms with them to the meetings and nine were on probation.

The sheriff highlighted details of some of the arrested suspects.

One of the arrested suspects is the head coach of the Florida team, the Davenport Titans, where he coaches children ages 11 to 14, the sheriff said. He thought he was traveling to meet a 14-year-old girl, the sheriff said. Another suspect was on active duty in the Navy.

Another, the sheriff said, a former Disney employee, worked as a Mickey Mouse character and had a diaper fetish. Law enforcement arrested him with two backpacks filled with diapers, the sheriff said.

The sheriff said he also stopped a Disney employee, who had his uniform in the car, only to meet with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old boy.

Disney has cooperated with law enforcement, the sheriff said at the news conference, and told him they have since fired all employees.