281 Arrested in Central Florida, including 13 Disney employees

ORLANDO AREA, Fla. — October 31, 2026 — A massive undercover law enforcement operation in Central Florida has resulted in 281 arrests, including 13 Walt Disney World employees and four Universal Orlando workers, authorities announced Friday.

The seven-day investigation, conducted in Polk County, targeted suspected child sexual predators, prostitution-related offenses and human trafficking.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the results alongside Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, describing the operation as the largest undercover investigation of its kind conducted by his agency.

The operation, named Polk Around & Find Out II, involved local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together to identify suspects and protect potential victims.

Disney and Universal Employees Among Those Arrested

One of the most striking findings was the involvement of individuals employed at Central Florida’s internationally recognized theme parks.

According to Sheriff Judd, 17 of those arrested reported working at Disney World or Universal Orlando.

Thirteen were associated with Disney, while four were associated with Universal.

Authorities said seven of the theme park workers were arrested as part of investigations involving suspected child sexual predators.

Judd also said Disney cooperated with investigators and terminated the employees identified during the operation.

The arrests do not mean that Disney or Universal themselves were accused of participating in criminal activity.

31 Suspected Child Sexual Predators Arrested

Investigators reported that 31 suspects were arrested in cases involving alleged attempts to arrange unlawful sexual encounters with minors.

Undercover detectives posed as children or individuals connected to children during online communications with suspects.

Authorities said several individuals traveled to arranged meeting locations believing they would encounter minors.

Among those arrested was a youth football coach accused of communicating with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Investigators also identified a former Disney character performer among the suspects accused of attempting to arrange sexual activity involving a child.

These allegations remain subject to criminal proceedings, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

488 Criminal Charges Filed

The operation resulted in 488 criminal charges, including 198 felonies and 290 misdemeanors.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests included 239 cases involving prostitution-related offenses, 31 cases involving suspected child sexual predators and 11 additional arrests.

Authorities also reported that two suspects faced human trafficking charges connected to the investigation.

Importantly, not all 281 individuals were arrested for human trafficking or offenses involving children. The majority of arrests involved prostitution-related allegations.

11 Potential Human Trafficking Victims Identified

Beyond the arrests, investigators and social service organizations identified 11 potential victims of human trafficking.

Organizations working with law enforcement offered assistance and support to individuals who may have been exploited.

The investigation involved cooperation with social service providers, including One More Child, which works to assist survivors of human trafficking.

Authorities emphasized that identifying and helping victims was a major objective of the operation.

Sheriff’s Deputy and Other Professionals Among Suspects

The investigation also led to the arrest of an Orange County sheriff’s deputy, a youth sports coach and an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy.

Their inclusion among the suspects has drawn additional attention to the operation.

Officials said the investigation involved individuals from different professional backgrounds and communities.

The criminal cases will now proceed through the justice system, where prosecutors must establish the allegations against each defendant.

A Major Investigation in Central Florida

The operation has attracted attention across Florida because of the number of arrests, the allegations involving children and the employment connections of several suspects to major tourist attractions.

Disney World and Universal Orlando welcome millions of visitors, including families with children, making the reported arrests particularly concerning to many residents and visitors.

However, authorities have not alleged that the theme park companies themselves organized or facilitated the suspected crimes.

For Florida families, the investigation highlights the continuing efforts of law enforcement agencies to identify online child exploitation, human trafficking and related criminal activity.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says its work to investigate suspected predators and protect vulnerable individuals will continue.