Disney workers, deputy and youth coach among 281 arrested in Florida human trafficking sting

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A weeklong undercover operation called “Polk Around & Find Out II” led to 281 arrests in Polk County, including 17 people who worked at theme parks, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office said Friday. The operation targeted child predators and human trafficking and resulted in 488 new charges, including 198 felonies.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office ran two stings at the same time: one targeting adults seeking sex with children and another focused on human trafficking. Sheriff Grady Judd called it the largest undercover operation his office has conducted.

At the news conference, Judd said investigators found 31 people who traveled to meet a child for sex, while attorney general’s office counted 32 arrests in the traveler sting. The release said the separate trafficking sting led to 249 arrests, including 117 alleged sex buyers and 122 people arrested for prostitution.

Uthmeier's office said those arrested had 798 prior charges, including 358 felonies. Nine were on probation, and nine had been arrested in earlier sheriff’s office stings. Authorities said 24 suspects brought firearms to the operation, while 32 people were charged with drug possession.

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Of the 17 theme park employees arrested, 13 worked for Disney and four for Universal, Judd said. He said Disney told investigators it had fired the employees.

Among the 31 child predator arrests, the sheriff’s office highlighted Rashion Crayton, 31, of Bartow, whom it identified as a youth football coach. Detectives said Crayton exchanged explicit messages with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl and arrived at the meeting location with lubricant and sex toys. He faces charges including traveling to meet a minor and attempted lewd or lascivious battery, the department said.

The sheriff’s office said several suspects told detectives they worked at theme parks. Adam Snyder, 24, of Champions Gate, said he worked in Toy Story Land at Disney World; investigators found part of his uniform and his Disney ID in his vehicle, according to the release. Snyder was among the 31 people accused of traveling to meet a child for sex.

A weeklong undercover operation called “Polk Around & Find Out II” led to 281 arrests in Polk County, including 17 people who worked at theme parks, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office said Friday. The operation targeted child predators and human trafficking and resulted in 488 new charges, including 198 felonies. (Attorney General's Office)

Two other suspects were charged with human trafficking in connection with the child predator investigation, the sheriff’s office said. Detectives accused Derrick Opitz, 27, of offering a child’s guardian $500, and Odlanier Marrero Rodriguez, 22, of offering marijuana in exchange for sex with a child.

Uthmeier said his office would pursue the cases and seek significant penalties. “We need our judges to take this seriously,” he said, arguing that repeat offenders can pose a risk if they are released early or receive light sentences. He said prosecutors would review defendants’ records and pursue additional charges when warranted.