Seven-day undercover operation uncovers suspected child predators, theme park employees, a sheriff’s deputy, and 11 identified trafficking victims.
APEP BAR | November 2, 2026
WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA — Behind the fantasy worlds of Central Florida’s famous theme parks, investigators say they uncovered a disturbing collection of alleged offenses during a sweeping undercover operation.
A seven-day operation led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office resulted in 281 arrests, including 13 reported Walt Disney World employees, four Universal Studios employees, a law enforcement officer, a youth football coach and an active-duty Navy sailor, according to the sheriff’s office and news reports.
The operation, named Polk Around and Find Out II, focused on suspected child sexual predators, human trafficking, and prostitution-related offenses. But the headline arrest total should not be confused with a count of people charged with trafficking children: the cases involved different allegations, and charges are not convictions.
What Investigators Found
According to the October 30 announcement from Sheriff Grady Judd’s office, the operation produced:
- 281 arrests over seven days.
- 488 new charges, comprising 198 felonies and 290 misdemeanors.
- 239 prostitution-related arrests involving solicitation, offering prostitution, or related conduct.
- 31 arrests involving suspects accused of seeking sexual activity with people they believed were minors or minors’ guardians.
- 11 other arrests involving other alleged offenses.
- 17 suspects who told investigators they worked at local theme parks or resorts; seven were in the child-predator group.
- 11 people identified as human-trafficking victims during the operation.
These distinctions matter. Not everyone arrested was accused of trafficking anyone or targeting children, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
When the Suspects Work at Disney
One of the most widely reported findings was the involvement of people who said they worked at Central Florida’s major theme parks. The sheriff’s office described several suspects who allegedly communicated online with undercover detectives posing as children or guardians.
One suspect, Adam Snyder, reportedly told detectives that he worked in Disney World’s Toy Story Land. Authorities allege he sent inappropriate messages to a detective posing as a 14-year-old boy before driving to an arranged meeting. Investigators said they found part of a Disney uniform and a company badge in his vehicle.
Another suspect, Brandon Quispe, reportedly told investigators he worked in Disney’s human resources department. The sheriff’s office alleges he communicated with a detective posing as the guardian of a 13-year-old boy and discussed unlawful sexual activity. Both were arrested and charged with offenses related to the alleged attempts.
The sheriff said Disney cooperated with investigators and indicated that implicated employees had been terminated, according to news coverage. The material reviewed does not establish that Disney or Universal management knowingly participated in the alleged offenses.
A Deputy, a Coach, and a Navy Sailor
The arrests were not limited to theme-park workers. The sheriff’s office identified Eric Raymond, an Orange County sheriff’s deputy who reportedly served as a school resource officer, among those charged with soliciting prostitution. His allegation was separate from the child-predator cases.
Investigators also arrested a youth football coach accused of arranging to meet a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl. An active-duty Navy sailor was among those accused of attempting to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity.
These cases raise difficult questions about institutional safeguarding, background screening, and how organizations respond when allegations involve people in positions of public trust.
Eleven Trafficking Victims Identified
Perhaps the most consequential reported result was the identification of 11 people believed to be victims of human trafficking.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators and service organizations screened 122 people arrested in the prostitution-related portion of the operation for signs of coercion or exploitation. The nonprofit One More Child and the Florida Department of Children and Families participated, and services were offered.
This underscores an important reality: people encountered during prostitution investigations may themselves be experiencing coercion or exploitation. Identifying and assisting victims is distinct from prosecuting alleged offenders.
The Investigation Is Not Over
Authorities say the operation involved multiple law-enforcement agencies and government partners. The sheriff’s office detailed individual allegations in its official report, but those accounts represent the investigators’ version of events. The courts must determine the legal outcomes.
The scale of the arrests is significant. Yet the deeper issue is not merely the number of suspects or the recognizable employers associated with some of them. It is the vulnerability of children and trafficking survivors—and whether institutions and authorities can recognize exploitation before further harm occurs.
The Apep Bar Question: If people accused of preying on children can hold positions inside major entertainment companies, law enforcement agencies and youth organizations, what safeguards are actually working—and what warning signs are being missed?
Question. Investigate. Reconsider.
Sources and Further Viewing
- Polk County Sheriff’s Office — Official October 30, 2026 investigation report
- FOX Local — Disney workers, deputy and coach among 281 arrested
- Watch the supplied news video on YouTube
Featured image: Illustrative photograph of police emergency lights by Scott Rodgerson / Unsplash. It does not depict the Polk County operation.
