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157 people arrested on prostitution-related charges in Polk County

One man was charged with human trafficking while three other men, including a Disney employee, were arrested for attempting to sexually batter children.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested 157 people after "Operation Autumn Sweep," a five-day-long undercover investigation that began on Oct. 2.

In a news release, the agency said of those 157 arrested, only one person, 25-year-old Travis Hutchinson, was charged with human trafficking. Three other men, including a Disney World employee, were charged with traveling to the undercover location to sexually batter children.

Deputies said Hutchinson created all of the online ads for his victim and organized meetings between her and his clients. During this time, the agency said he would assault the woman and "force her into prostitution through intimidation, fear and physical abuse."

Hutchinson was arrested after the woman arrived at the undercover location and "trusted law enforcement enough to tell her story," deputies said.

Meanwhile, Branden Orr, 28, Michael Gillis, 34, and Ezequiel Mejia, 30, were arrested after they allegedly engaged in sexual discussions with undercover detectives posing as minors online. Orr told detectives he was a lifeguard at Disney World's Art of Animation Resort after he was arrested. 

He was one of three people arrested in the operation who worked at Disney World.

Overall, 96 suspects were arrested for soliciting a prostitute and traveling to the location to exchange sex for money. Four possible human trafficking victims were identified during the operation, the sheriff's office said.

"The approach of Hurricane Milton caused us to end our investigation earlier than planned, but it’s still amazing that in such a short amount of time, we were able to put 157 people in jail, and three child predators," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stated in a news release. "Sixteen percent of the suspects we arrested are here illegally, but were offered free medical, food, travel, and housing, compliments of the U.S. taxpayers – meanwhile hurricane victims are still waiting, and praying for help."

News conference - Operation Autumn Sweep (October 17, 2024)

Sheriff Grady Judd is giving details about a five-day-long multi-agency undercover investigation, "Operation Autumn Sweep" that focused on human trafficking, during which 157 arrests were made of suspects who solicited prostitutes and those who offered to commit prostitution, and other suspects who committed crimes related to prostitution. Among the arrests, four victims of human trafficking were identified and offered services, and one suspect was charged with felony human trafficking. Of the 157 arrested, 25 are in the country illegally. Three additional suspects were arrested for soliciting who they thought were children online, and charged with traveling to meet a minor, attempted lewd and lascivious battery on a minor, and use of a computer to seduce a child. One of those suspects works at Disney World; one is in Florida for work, and out on bond from the same charges in another state (soliciting a child online); and the third is in the country illegally. Click here to read the release: https://tinyurl.com/3vj4p4sa

Posted by Polk County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, October 17, 2024

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