Friday, Florida police revealed that 160 individuals were arrested during a week-long investigation into human trafficking.
A deputy police chief, two teachers, and a Disney employee were among those arrested.
26 of those arrested are married, according to the police, and 15 of the accused came from out of state.
Friday, Florida authorities announced the arrests of a former Georgia deputy chief, a Disney employee, two teachers, and a state corrections officer during a seven-day investigation into human trafficking.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that 160 persons were detained during “Operation Fall Haul 2.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release that 26 of those arrested are married and 15 suspects were from out of state.
At the news conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters that one of individuals arrested outside of Florida was Jason DiPrima, an assistant police chief from Georgia.
Judd reported that DiPrima attempted to employ an undercover cop acting as a prostitute by offering $180 and a pack of White Claw.
DiPrima has resigned from his post at the Cartersville Police Department, according to the sheriff.
Judd told reporters, “If all else fails, he can publish a book on how to lose your career in three simple stages.”
Keith Nieves, 24, a prison officer at Lake Correctional Institution, was also arrested after allegedly attempting to have sex with another undercover detective posing as a prostitute, according to a press release.
According to The Hill, Judd stated, “He’s in jail as a prison bird, just like the prison birds he observes.”
According to a press statement from the Polk County sheriff’s office, the operation also resulted in the arrest of three Florida school personnel.
Cameron Burke, 43, a computer technician at Oak Ridge High School in Orange County who was out on bond after being accused of having sex with a 15-year-old student in 2020, was also arrested the operation, according to the statement released by Judd.
Carlos Gonzalez, a 34-year-old math teacher, told police after his arrest, according to the statement, that he only told to give the two prostitutes money and depart without having sex.
John Layton, 26, who taught physical education at West Orange High School in Orange County and was captured by officials attempting to pay an undercover officer $40 for a sexual act, was the other teacher detained, according to the statement.
The sheriff reportedly told reporters, “No, the students have track practice in the morning; you have jail practice in the morning.”
The statement also mentioned the arrests of two Disney employees.
According to the statement, Guillermo Perez, 57, a bellhop at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, was detained after responding to an internet escort ad and agreeing to pay $80 for sex.
According to the announcement, self-employed photographer Samy Claude, 26, who was frequently commissioned by Disney, was also arrested for responding to an internet escort advertisement.
“The online prostitution industry facilitates human trafficking and perpetuates the victimization of people who are trafficked. Our mission is to locate victims, provide them with assistance, and apprehend those who fuel the exploitation of humans (Johns) and those who benefit from the exploitation of humans. It results in exploitation, sickness, dysfunction, drug and alcohol use, violence, and ruined families.” According to Judd’s statement,