Shockingly disturbing news has just come out of the state of Florida. Law enforcement has announced a massive human trafficking ring bust, which led to arrest of over 219 individuals. This figure is record breaking.
The operation, which was conducted earlier this month, resulted in the apprehension of illegal aliens, a high school teacher and three Disney employees.
During a press conference regarding the bust, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd revealed that out of 119 individuals arrested on prostitution charges, 21 were identified as possible victims of human trafficking.
Two suspects involved in the operation – Freddy Escalona (30) and Maria Guzman (36) – were charged with human trafficking and deriving proceeds from prostitution. Escalona reportedly coerced one victim into prostitution after lending her money for vehicle repairs then demanding repayment. He also admitted to having multiple females under his control who he transported and profited from their activities.
Guzman was accused of trafficking two victims from an Orlando hotel and facilitating their “dates” while taking profits from them.
Moreover, those arrested ranged all across age groups spanning 76 years old – Frank Bydairk – through 18 year old Latrice Vilsaint.
One of those arrested included Russell Rogers -an athletic director at Vanguard School and a teacher at Auburndale High School REAL Academy -who is married with three children and has been terminated by Polk County Public Schools due to involvement in this incident.
Three other employees working at Disney or associated Disney Hotels have also been apprehended by law enforcement agencies.
During his speech concerning the outcomes of this massive bust, which Sheriff Judd claimed as “the largest” ever conducted by Polk County, he stressed on collaborations between law enforcement agencies and social services organization that enabled 45 victims identified so far this year get emancipation opportunities and necessary help they require.
His exact words being: “Not only did we arrest more suspects during this single operation than we have ever arrested before, we identified 21 human trafficking victims; during a similar operation in February, we identified 24 victims… The valuable relationships that we have with the social services organizations who join us in these operations make it possible for these women to get help and be emancipated from this way of life.”
