Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff's Office have arrested more than 100 suspects during an undercover investigation focusing on human trafficking.
Detectives conducted a six-day Human Trafficking operation from November 27 to December 2. Detectives focused on prostitutes posting online advertisements as well as "johns" seeking female prostitutes online.
Undercover detectives posted fake ads or profiles on social media platforms, websites, and mobile phone applications, posing as prostitutes or those soliciting prostitutes. Some of the detectives found profiles and online ads posted by prostitutes and responded to them.
A total of 103 arrests were made. Fifty-six of the arrests were for those who advertised as prostitutes online. Thirty of the arrests were those who solicited undercover detectives who posted ads posing as prostitutes. Eleven arrests were those who derive support from proceeds of prostitution and six were taken into custody for drug charges and other offenses.
Charges for those arrested include soliciting another for prostitution, deriving support from proceeds of prostitution, transporting to building for prostitution and using a communication device to commit a felony.
Sheriff Grady Judd will release more information during a news conference on Monday at 1 p.m.
