Florida Sheriff Says a Child-Predator Sting Netted 31 Arrests, Including 13 Disney Workers and Four From Universal; Disney Says It Fired All 13
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the results Friday. Breitbart relays his claims that most suspects came armed and that 16 were in the country illegally and were turned over to ICE.
Seventeen Disney and Universal employees were among 31 people arrested in a Polk County, Florida, undercover operation aimed at adults who travel to meet minors for sex, Breitbart reports, citing the sheriff's announcement.
What the sheriff said. At a press conference Friday, Sheriff Grady Judd said 13 of the suspects worked for the Disney Corporation and four for Universal Studios. "It is extremely disturbing when we encounter nasty child predators like these who are very eager to have sex with children. This is why we conduct these types of undercover operations," Judd said, per CBS Miami's WFOR-TV. Breitbart says one arrested man had worked in a Mickey Mouse costume at Disney World.
Other details Breitbart reports. Judd said 24 suspects arrived armed and that 16 were in the country illegally and have been handed to ICE. Breitbart's text on those figures is garbled in places, so treat them as the sheriff's claims relayed second-hand. It also says one suspect was the head coach of a youth football team for ages 11 to 14. Judd has made 281 arrests in sex stings this year.
The company response. Breitbart says Disney has fired all 13 employees identified in the operation. It did not report a Universal statement.
The commentary. Breitbart quotes Peter Schweizer, who wrote about predators at Disney World in a 1998 book that he says forced the company to run criminal background checks. "But...13 park employees just picked up in a sting," he wrote on X.
What to keep in mind. Those arrested are accused, and the sheriff describes the operation as an undercover sting. We have not seen the sheriff's release or charging documents, and we have not named any suspect.