Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A former Orlando police officer and Polk County School Board volunteer were among 98 arrested for prostitution and human trafficking during a four day undercover investigation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The four day sting operation started Thursday and finished Sunday.
Detectives focused on websites that advertise prostitution.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 98 people, including 24 married men and women, 28 prostitutes, 52 “Johns” and 16 who brought prostitutes to the undercover location.
The undercover sting was titled “Operation: When will you learn.”
The former Orlando police officer, 44, is accused of trying to find women he could pimp out on the streets. He is charged with use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and trying to derive proceeds from prostitution.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the man was trying to be a pimp.
Another man, a 56-year-old Polk County School Board volunteer residing in Winter Haven, is accused of soliciting an undercover female detective to have sexual intercourse for $100. He was charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution.
Deputies also allege that the undercover operation broke up at least three human trafficking rings.
Polk County law enforcement officers often try to catch those engaging in illegal acts of prostitution by performing undercover sting operations on a regular basis. These undercover operations are conducted with the hopes of luring unsuspecting individuals into acts of prostitution. Many undercover detectives are not above using all types of tricky and underhanded methods to catch suspected pimps and even law-abiding citizens just so an arrest can be made.
A Polk County Criminal Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton can help you if you were arrested for a sex crime resulting from an undercover sting operation. We can thoroughly analyze the facts of your case and identify if you were the victim of entrapment. If there is evidence that proves you only agreed to prostitution because a law enforcement officer persuaded you into doing so, the charges against you can possibly be reduced or dismissed altogether. We may also be able to demonstrate that there is insufficient evidence or a lack of evidence in your case, which could help you avoid the harsh consequences of a conviction. Whatever your situation, please call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation to discuss your defense options.