Seventeen people who said they work at local theme parks or resorts, including Disney World and Universal Studios, were among 281 suspects arrested in a seven-day undercover operation, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
Seven of those theme park workers were arrested as child sex predators, according to the sheriff’s office. At a news conference, Sheriff Grady Judd said 13 of the 17 worked for Disney and four for Universal. He said Disney had fired the employees.
The joint operation, called “Polk Around and Find Out II,” targeted human trafficking and people who travel to meet children for sex. Of the arrests, 239 involved prostitution-related offenses, 31 involved child sexual predators and 11 were for other crimes.
Suspects face 198 felony and 290 misdemeanor charges. Together, they had 358 felony and 440 misdemeanor charges on their records before this operation.
“It is extremely disturbing when we encounter nasty child predators like these who are very eager to have sex with children,”
In the child predator sting, 31 suspects contacted undercover detectives posing as children or their guardians online, the sheriff’s office said. Several brought condoms, “poppers” or other items to the meeting spot.
Among them was Adam Snyder, 24, of Champions Gate. Detectives said he messaged someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy. He told detectives he works in Toy Story Land at Disney World, and part of his uniform and his Disney badge were in his vehicle.
Collin Klaco, 24, of Clermont, told detectives he once dressed as Mickey Mouse at Disney World. He is accused of arranging to meet a 13-year-old boy through someone he thought was the child’s guardian. Detectives found diapers and wipes in a backpack he carried into the house.
Rashion Crayton, 31, of Bartow, coaches the Davenport Titans youth football team, whose players are 11 to 14. He is charged with traveling to meet a minor after allegedly sending explicit messages to a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl.
Others charged include Dang Thai, 24, a U.S. Navy petty officer stationed in Jacksonville, and Robert Schulz, 67, a retired New York City firefighter. Randy Brunet, 26, who told detectives he works at Disney resorts, faces 60 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material.
The prostitution sting led to the arrest of 117 people accused of soliciting sex. One of them was Eric Raymond, 40, an Orange County deputy assigned as a school resource deputy at Independence Elementary School.
Detectives and social service groups screened the 122 people who traveled to engage in prostitution. They identified 11 human trafficking victims and offered services to everyone screened.
Officials said 32 of those arrested were in the country illegally, from nine countries. Judd said 16 had been handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Have something to promote?
Bring your business, services or event to our readers.