The Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Friday unveiled results of the largest undercover operation in its history — a seven-day sting that netted 281 arrests, including a former Walt Disney World Mickey Mouse character, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy and dozens of Central Florida theme park employees.
“This is the single largest undercover operation we’ve ever done,” Judd said at a news conference about the operation called “Polk Around and Find Out II.”
281 arrests, 11 trafficking victims
The investigation resulted in 239 arrests related to soliciting prostitution, offering to commit prostitution, and aiding, abetting, or transporting prostitutes. An additional 31 arrests were related to child sexual predators, and 11 other arrests were made, according to a news release.
Among those arrested were 17 theme park employees — 13 from Walt Disney World and four from Universal Orlando— as well as 32 people in the country illegally, representing nine different countries. Twenty-two suspects are currently collecting public assistance, totaling $8,373 per month — or $100,476 per year — collectively.
Eleven human trafficking victims were identified during the investigation, and the 122 suspects who traveled to commit prostitution were screened by detectives and social services organizations to determine if they were being trafficked or exploited.
Ex-Mickey Mouse character arrested
A former Walt Disney World Mickey Mouse character was among those arrested in the child predator operation.
“He had the high squeaky voice, too, by the way,” Judd quipped.
According to the sheriff’s office, Collin Klaco, 24, of Clermont, drove to the undercover location after communicating online with a detective posing as the guardian of a 13-year-old boy. Detectives found two backpacks full of diapers — some of them Disney-branded — when he arrived.
“He wanted to wear diapers. He wanted to put diapers on the children, and he wanted to do all kinds of nasty stuff,” said Judd.
Klaco told detectives he was no longer employed at Disney at the time of his arrest but had previously worked as a Mickey Mouse character. He was charged with traveling to meet a minor, use of a computer to solicit a guardian, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, and attempted lewd and lascivious battery on a minor.
“Well, now he’s a jailbird character, and that’s where he needs to be,” Judd said.
Judd also reported that Disney fired all 13 who were arrested.
Orange County deputy, coach, Navy member among suspects
One of the 117 suspects arrested for soliciting prostitution is an Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy. According to an arrest report, Deputy Eric Raymond, who was also a school resource officer, responded to a fake online ad offering escort services and agreed to meet with an undercover detective. When he arrived, deputies say he agreed to pay for sex and was taken into custody. Raymond faces one count of soliciting prostitution.
Raymond has been employed with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office since August 2020 and works in the Uniform Patrol Division. He has been relieved of all law enforcement duties and reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of the criminal case.
“Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Eric Raymond should have known better,” Judd said in a news release. “His actions demonstrate moral turpitude. The online prostitution industry enables and empowers human traffickers, allowing them to profit off the people they exploit.”
Orange County Sheriff John Mina issued a statement following Raymond’s arrest.
“At the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, we are committed to ensuring that those who serve the community as deputies follow the laws they are responsible to uphold,” Mina said.
One of the most disturbing arrests involved Rashawn Crayton, 31, the head coach of the Davenport Titans, a youth football team whose players range in age from 11 to 14 and compete in the Mid Florida Youth Conference of Football and Cheer. Judd said Crayton showed up to have sex with who he believed was a 14-year-old girl, sending graphic messages that included an offer to pick the child up from school. When Crayton arrived at the undercover location, deputies say he brought a battery-charged sex toy and other items — carried inside an Uber Eats delivery bag from his previous job as a delivery driver.
Also among the child predator arrests was Dang Thai, 24, an active-duty Navy machinist mate from Jacksonville who told the undercover detective he was 17 years old. Judd said Thai later boasted after his arrest that he holds a top-secret military clearance.