Polk County Sheriff's Office Arrest 98 in Undercover Prostitution and Human Trafficking Sting
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
By: Carmel Delshad

May 27, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando - Nearly 100 people were arrested in the sting, which the Sheriff's Office dubbed "Operation When Will You Learn."

Over a four-day period, investigators targeted e-commerce websites related to men and women who were advertising to commit prostitution and who were soliciting others for prostitution.

Many of the suspects brought prostitutes to the undercover location, while others were prostitutes, including one 15 year-old girl.

Authorities say they’ve found a direct relationship between prostitution and human trafficking. Detectives believe they’ve found two potential cases of human trafficking stemming from this latest operation.

Of the 98 suspects arrested:  

24 were married

15 are on public assistance

16 suspects were arrested when they brought prostitutes to the undercover location; 

28 suspects arrested were prostitutes; 

52 suspects arrested were “johns” or those who wished to pay for sex from prostitutes. 

And 64 of those arrested have been arrested over 448 times before.