As many as 160 individuals were arrested this week in Florida, including Disney employees and school teachers, in connection to a human trafficking law enforcement action dubbed “Operation Fall Haul II.”
The investigation was conducted by the Polk County Police Department and involved a week-long sting operation in central Florida, reports say.
“Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and arrest those who are fueling the exploitation of human beings (Johns) and those profiting from the exploitation of human beings. Prostitution is not a victimless crime – it results in exploitation, disease, dysfunction, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, and broken families,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.
During a press conference after the arrests, Judd also suggested to the media that capturing Disney employees for human trafficking crimes was a typical occurrence, and added that “we always have Disney employees.”
“Now, where would we be with an undercover operation and no Disney employees?” said Judd. “Oh yes, we always have Disney employees.”
“Now, where would we be with an undercover operation and no Disney employees?” the Florida sheriff said of the human-trafficking investigation that busted a Disney worker, a Disney-contracted photographer, and high school staff. “Oh yes, we always have Disney employees.” pic.twitter.com/ykJf0sitpb
— Mia Cathell (@MiaCathell) September 12, 2022
Among a wide range of individuals from multiple states, one man who worked as a bellhop for the Disney Coronado Springs Resort, 57-year old Guillermo Perez, was arrested in connection with the operation after agreeing “to pay for a sexual encounter” with an undercover law enforcement detective, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
A man named Samy Claude, 26, who was contracted by Disney as a photographer, has also been charged with soliciting a prostitute.
26-year-old Samy Jean Claude, a photographer often contracted by Disney, was arrested for soliciting a prostitute. Claude brought a bag of sour Skittles for the undercover detective when he arrived at the sex meet-up place. pic.twitter.com/n8hut4xDiG
— Mia Cathell (@MiaCathell) September 12, 2022
The list of traffickers would additionally include 26 year old high school gym teacher John Layton, as well as a 36 year old high school math teacher Carlos Gonzales, who were both arrested for agreeing to pay for sexual favors.
“No, the students have track practice in the morning; you have jail practice in the morning,” Judd said of Layton’s arrest.
All of the suspects remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of the law.
