POLK COUNTY, Fla. – 160 people were arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit during a seven-day undercover human trafficking operation, “Fall Haul 2,” which began on Monday, August 29, 2022.
PCSO was assisted in the effort by police departments from Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales, Davenport, and Bartow, as well as the Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit, State Attorney Brian Haas, members from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), and social services organizations: One More Child, Heartland for Children, My Name My Voice, Selah Freedom, and the Children’s Home Society of Florida who provide on-site services to identified or potential trafficking victims.
Those who traveled to provide prostitution services were screened by detectives and social services organizations to determine if they were being trafficked or exploited by others.
Two trafficking victims, and another five possible victims, were identified. All prostitutes taken into custody were offered services by the social services organizations at the operation. Follow-up will be conducted with those who are suspected to be sex-trafficked or exploited.
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“The online prostitution industry enables traffickers and allows for the continued victimization of those who are being trafficked. 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,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Some interesting notes from the operation:
- 26 of those arrested told detectives that they are married.
- Detectives charged those arrested with a total of 52 felonies and 216 misdemeanors.
- Criminal histories of everyone arrested included 419 previous felonies and 619 previous misdemeanors. Some of the prior histories include charges for kidnapping, robbery, aggravated battery, and sex offenses.
- 15 of the arrested were from other states and one was from Puerto Rico (Georgia, Michigan, New York, California, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Arizona).
- 16 suspects live in Polk County.
- 12 suspects told detectives they receive government assistance.
- Detectives seized cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), and marijuana, from those arrested during the operation.
- 7 of the arrested are suspected of being in the country illegally.
- The oldest person arrested is 64 years old, while the youngest is 19 years old.
41-year-old Cameron Burke of Ocoee arrived at the residence to have sex with a prostitute and was arrested for Soliciting a Prostitute (M2). Burke was currently released on a bond for lewd and lascivious battery on a 15-year-old student at Oak Ridge High School in Orange County. He was arrested in 2021 after the Orange County Sheriff’s Office learned Burke had been having sex with the high school student beginning in August 2020. At the time of his arrest he was employed as a computer technician for the school.
24-year-old Keith Nieves of Orlando was arrested for two counts of Soliciting a Prostitute (M1). He responded to an online escort advertisement and agreed to have unprotected sex with two undercover detectives. Nieves is employed as a correctional officer at Lake County Correctional Institution.
36-year-old Carlos Gonzalez of Davenport was arrested for two counts of Soliciting a Prostitute (M1). He responded to an online escort advertisement and agreed to have sex with two undercover detectives. Gonzalez is employed as a Math teacher at New Dimensions High School in Osceola County.
26-year-old John Layton of Gotha was arrested for Soliciting a Prostitute (M1). He responded to an online escort advertisement and agreed to pay $40 for a sex act. Layton is employed as a Physical Education teacher at West Orange High School in Orange County and was wearing a school track and field shirt when he arrived at the undisclosed location.
61-year-old John Glass of Verona, Kentucky was arrested for Soliciting a Prostitute (M1). He responded to an online escort advertisement and agreed to have unprotected sex with an undercover detective. Glass and his family were visiting at their vacation home in Kissimmee. He is the owner of Glass Family Pizza, part of the Domino’s Pizza franchise, in Kentucky.
57-year-old Guillermo Perez of Winter Garden was arrested for Soliciting a Prostitute (M2). He responded to an online escort advertisement and agreed to pay $80 for a quick visit to have sex with an undercover detective. Perez is employed as a bellhop at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
26-year-old Samy Claude of Orlando was arrested for Soliciting a Prostitute (M1). He responded to an online escort advertisement and agreed to have sex with an undercover detective. When Claude arrived at the residence, he brought a bag of sour Skittles for the undercover detective. He is self-employed as a photographer and is often contracted by Disney.
35-year-old David Morton of Orlando was arrested for Offering to Engage in Lewdness (M2). An undercover detective replied to an online escort service advertisement posted by Morton. Morton agreed to meet the undercover detective for sex. When Morton arrived at the residence he was completely naked below the waist. Morton told detectives he was only there for a visit.
30-year-old Eriel Palmore of Orlando was arrested for Offering to Engage in Lewdness (M2). An undercover detective replied to an online escort service advertisement posted by Palmore. Palmore agreed to meet the undercover detective for sex. She was on probation at the time of her arrest for prostitution. She was arrested in March 2022 during PCSO Operation March Sadness II.
35-year-old Carlos Ventura of St. Cloud was arrested for Offering to Engage in Lewdness (M2), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (F3), and Knowingly Driving with a Suspended License (M2). An undercover detective replied to an online escort service advertisement posted by Ventura. He agreed to meet and have sex with the undercover detective’s “wife.” When Ventura arrived at the residence, he had a loaded .40 caliber handgun in the waist of his pants. He is a convicted felon and was currently on probation for grand theft at the time of his arrest.
25-year-old Shanice Blake and 29-year-old Kervens Felix, both from Orlando, were arrested for child abuse and drug charges. An undercover detective responded to an online escort service advertisement posted by Blake and Felix. The two were offering to trade marijuana for sex. When the couple arrived at the residence, Felix remained in the car with a 2-year-old child, while Blake entered the residence and attempted to sell one pound of marijuana to the undercover detective for $1900. The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified.
Blake was charged with:
· Use of a 2-Way Device to Commit a Felony (F3)
· Negligent Child Abuse (F3)
· Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell (F3)
· Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1)
Felix was charged with:
· Use of a 2-Way Device to Commit a Felony (F3)
· Negligent Child Abuse (F3)
· Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell (F3)
· Possession of Marijuana over 20 Grams (F3)
· Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1)
49-year-old Jason DiPrima of Kingston, Georgia was arrested for Soliciting a Prostitute (M1). DiPrima responded to an online escort advertisement and agreed to come to an undisclosed location to meet the detective. He initially agreed to pay the undercover detective $120 for a half hour of “full service” sex. When he arrived at the undisclosed location, he confirmed the arrangement by giving the undercover detective $180 and a multi-pack of White Claw Hard Seltzer. DiPrimia is the Deputy Chief of Administration for the Cartersville Police Department in Georgia (He has since resigned).
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