Firebrand Florida sheriff blasts Biden-Harris open border after human trafficking op nets 25 illegal aliens, Disney employee



Outspoken Florida sheriff Grady Judd blasted the open border of the Biden-Harris administration after a human trafficking crackdown led to the arrests of 25 illegal aliens as well as a Disney employee.

The operation netted 157 arrestees, and Judd — who heads up the Polk County Sheriff's Office — emphasized how the border crisis has substantially exacerbated human trafficking crimes in the United States.

The sheriff's office held a press conference Thursday announcing the results of a multi-agency operation titled "Operation Autumn Sweep."

'When are we going to get tired of this? When have we had enough? When are we going to say, "The hardworking people of the United States are who we need to be taking care of."'

The five-day undercover investigation went after suspects who solicited prostitutes, offered to commit prostitution, and other suspects who committed crimes related to prostitution and other sex crimes.

"Three additional suspects were arrested for soliciting who they thought were children online, and charged with traveling to meet a minor, attempted lewd and lascivious battery on a minor, and use of a computer to seduce a child," the sheriff's office said in a press release,

One of those suspects accused of child sex crimes works at Disney World.

WTVT-TV reported that the Disney World employee was out on bond for the same charges in another state — soliciting a child online.

As a result of the operation, four human trafficking victims were rescued.

According to the sheriff's office, 47 arrestees were prostitutes, 96 were johns, and one was a human trafficker. The oldest suspect was 61, and the youngest was 15. In addition, 26 arrestees were married.

Judd said of those arrested that there were 327 prior felony charges and 400 prior misdemeanor charges.

Judd noted that 25 individuals arrested in the operation were illegal immigrants.

During the press conference, Judd emphasized the border crisis led to these criminal activities in Florida.

Two of the human trafficking victims told sheriff's investigators that they had to pay off coyote debts of $6,000.

Judd pointed out that the human trafficking victims who were in the country illegally had to turn 20 "tricks" a day to pay off the coyote who brought them into the U.S. illegally. The sheriff said the victims were physically abused by their human trafficker to compel them to work as prostitutes.

Judd added that one of the female suspects from Venezuela entered the U.S. in El Paso, Texas, and said she was "greeted by the Border Patrol."

"She simply walked across the open border," the sheriff continued before stressing that "there is no border security at the southern border. Zero. It doesn't exist."

The suspect allegedly said Border Patrol processed her in one day and then told her "all about the benefits" for which she would be eligible, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, free housing, free travel to Chicago, and free travel to Florida.

Judd also ripped the Biden-Harris administration over the border crisis: "Make no mistake about it, the government is complicit, and is aiding and abetting human trafficking in the United States."

Judd pointed out that illegal immigrants are receiving federal assistance while Americans suffering from recent hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina are struggling.

"When are we going to get tired of this? When have we had enough? When are we going to say, 'The hardworking people of the United States are who we need to be taking care of?'" Judd asked.

This isn't the first time a Disney employee has been arrested for sex crimes.

As Blaze News previously reported in 2022, a construction subcontractor building a new roller coaster at Walt Disney World in Orlando was arrested in another Polk County Sheriff's Office sex sting.

Another Polk County Sheriff's Office undercover operation resulted in the arrest of a Disney World employee in 2022.

You can watch the full Operation Autumn Sweep press conference below:

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'We've changed the looks of his groin forever': Florida deputies open fire, transitioning an armed arson suspect into a detainee



Over the weekend, deputies from the Polk County sheriff's office disarmed an alleged firebomber in central Florida, leaving him with a wound he won't soon forget.

Emasculation near Dinosaur World

Responding to a 911 call on Nov. 20, the sheriff's office dispatched deputies to a north Lakeland neighborhood to deal with a suspected arsonist who was throwing incendiary devices at a residence.

Sheriff Grady Judd indicated that 30-year-old Luke Neely, whom he characterized as a "bad man," had been throwing "Molotov cocktails onto a roof and at a house," with a mother, father, and their adult daughter still inside.

Deputies arrived one minute and 18 seconds after receiving the call. According to the sheriff's office, the first deputy on the scene witnessed the suspect throwing one of seven Molotov cocktails, two of which had exploded on the house. Other incendiary devices had reportedly caught fire in the yard.

When the deputy ordered the suspect to stop, Neely reportedly got into an older-model Chevrolet pickup truck and fled the scene.

The deputy attempted to pull the suspect over, but failing that, continued to give chase south down U.S. 98.

On account of the arson charges, the deputy determined that a precision immobilization technique (PIT maneuver) was warranted and made two attempts, the second of which broke his wrist.

Neely managed to continue fleeing westbound on I-4.

West of the county line, in the Hillsborough County area, the truck, which had sustained significant damage from the PIT maneuver, began to slow down. The deputies seized upon this deceleration as an opportunity to bring the chase to an end.

Sheriff's deputies blocked and rammed the truck, causing a vehicle crash. The arson suspect did not, however, immediately surrender.

The Lakeland resident got out of the truck allegedly brandishing an "AR-style" rifle with a fully loaded .380 handgun on his hip and 57 rounds of ammunition to spare.

According to Judd, Neely began to run toward a tyrannosaurus rex statue on the perimeter of the theme park Dinosaur World.

Three deputies began shooting, firing a total of 10 shots. The suspect was struck twice in the right leg, once in the left leg, and once in the groin.

Judd said, "We've changed the looks of his groin forever, if you know what I mean."

The wounds are reportedly non-life-threatening, though it is unclear whether the suspect's ego will survive.

"We're blessed that everything turned out the way that it did. It certainly could have been a lot worse," said Judd.

Ongoing investigation

The Polk County sheriff's office noted in a statement that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the deputy-involved use of force because the incident occurred in Hillsborough County.

Neely's alleged firebombing spree concerns more than the Polk and Hillsborough Counties.

During his weekend press conference, Judd said that the suspect had "started early" the day of the incident, setting multiple fires in Ybor City and the Tampa area.

After trying to fell a tree with flame, Neely allegedly tried to set fire to the rear of the Ritz Ybor, which had nearly 1,000 people inside at the time. Judd indicated that Neely successfully set the building's air conditioning unit on fire.

The suspect allegedly went on to set additional fires, including a trash fire at Gaspar's Grotto around 4 a.m., just hours before his run-in with Polk County deputies. One of the incidents can be seen in this video obtained by WFLA:

Alleged arsonist caught on surveillance video in Ybor youtu.be

Neely has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of arson, seven counts of firebombing, and one count of resisting arrest. Judd said that Neely will also face other charges, such as fleeing to elude.

Neely was previously arrested by the Polk County sheriff's office in 2016 and charged with disorderly conduct, using a firearm while intoxicated, and resisting arrest. He was psychiatrically admitted under the Baker Act in 2020.

News Conference - Luke Neely (November 20, 2022) youtu.be

Sheriff Judd has earned a reputation for taking a no-nonsense approach to crime.

During an October appearance on "Fox & Friends," Judd told Florida homeowners, "I would highly suggest that if a looter breaks into your home, comes into your home while you’re there to steal stuff that you take your gun and you shoot him. You shoot him so he looks like grated cheese."

\u201cPolk County Sheriff:\n\n"I would highly suggest that if a looter breaks into your home ... to steal stuff, that you take your gun and you shoot him \u2026 so that he looks like grated cheese."\u201d
— The Post Millennial (@The Post Millennial) 1665170608

In June, Polk County deputies shot and killed an "active shooter" who had threatened to kill his wife and members of law enforcement.

According to Judd, when 56-year-old Michael Loman came outside with a rifle to make good on his threat, "He chose for us to shoot him and we accommodated his request."

Judd added, "We shot him a lot ... and that was the end of the gunfight."

In December 2021, Judd extolled the quick thinking and just action taken by a homeowner who shot a home invader.

Judd said that the homeowner "had a gun, he knew how to use it, it was loaded, and he shot him a lot. He gave him an early Christmas present. Only Santa Claus gets to come in your house — and Santa Claus is invited."

Sting operation arrests 13 accused of wanting to 'sexually abuse, groom' children, including Disney employee and IT guy who protects students from online predators



An undercover operation in Florida led to the arrests of 13 men who were accused of wanting to "sexually abuse, groom" children. Among those arrested in the sting operation were a Disney employee and an IT guy who is responsible for installing systems at schools to protect children from online sexual predators.

The Polk County sheriff's office engaged in the weeklong "Operation Cyber Guardian II." The sting operation featured detectives posing as children on social media platforms, mobile apps, and online dating sites to expose sexual predators who prey on minors. The undercover operation had assistance from officers with the police departments of Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, and Tampa, as well as the Hernando County sheriff's office, Orange County sheriff's office, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

"The suspects communicated with and solicited who they thought were children online," the Polk County sheriff's office said in a press release. "Three of the suspects believed they were speaking with a parent or guardian of a child who wanted to teach their 'child' to have sex or arranging for the minor to have sex with the suspect."

There were eight men who traveled to locations in Polk County to "meet who they thought were children, to sexually batter them."

Juan Miguel Diaz, 35, went to a location to have sex with someone who he believed was a 14-year-old girl, according to police. He was arrested by police and charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, soliciting a guardian for sex with a minor, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, and attempted lewd battery.

"He told detectives he was employed by Linewize Limited as a service technician who installs firewalls and internet safety programs on computers in elementary, middle, and high schools to protect students from accessing inappropriate websites and online predators," the Polk County sheriff's office said.

John DeSarli Jr., 39, communicated with a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl on social media, according to police. When he was told the age of the supposed minor and asked if he approved, he purportedly replied, "Yes love. Let's make it happen."

The Polk County sheriff's office said he was arrested at an undercover location. Police said they found cocaine, heroin, and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle. He was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, attempted lewd battery, possession of cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of transmitting harmful material to a minor.

Joshua Cummins, 28, allegedly interacted online with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. He allegedly said he wanted to play a game with her and the winner would get a sex act performed on them.

When he attempted to meet the minor, he was arrested by police. Cummins faces charges of traveling to meet a minor for sex, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, and attempted lewd battery.

Cummins told detectives he worked for a construction subcontractor building a new roller coaster at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

Kevin Sanders, 42, reportedly interacted with a detective posing as a 13-year-old girl on social media. Police said he described the sex acts he wanted to perform on the child, but warned the "girl" they would "have to be careful" because she was underage.

"Sanders has engaged online with undercover detectives he believed to be children for several years, always ending his communication before actually traveling to meet the person he believed was a minor for sex," the sheriff's office said. "During this investigation, detectives were able to identify Sanders and obtained a warrant for his arrest."

On September 7, Sanders was arrested by detectives at his place of employment – the Walt Disney Company.

Sanders allegedly confessed to detectives that he engaged in sexual conversations with people he believed to be minors. He admitted that he had reached out to minors online for years and that interacting with children online was his "addiction," according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Sanders reportedly informed police that he is a roving IT support specialist at Disney. He allegedly is married with two young children.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "We will continue to conduct proactive operations like this to search out these evil predators before they get to our children."

"We are going hold them criminally accountable for their attempts to sexually abuse, groom, and corrupt our children," Judd added.

"Parents, please get all in your child’s business when it comes to their use of electronic devices that gives them access to online gaming, mobile applications, texting, or the internet," he advised parents. "Check their devices regularly and ensure parental controls are enabled to keep men like these away from your kids."

During a press conference regarding "Operation Cyber Guardian II," Judd said, "These are the people who are online trying to groom your children. And they go to areas where you would find children. They go to gaming sites, they go to social apps that attract young children, and they hang out ... in public parks."

Last week, the Polk County sheriff's office arrested 160 people in a sting operation targeting human trafficking. Among those arrested were a Disney employee, a corrections officer, a former deputy police chief, and teachers.

You can watch the entire Polk County sheriff's office press conference on the undercover operation below.

News Conference: Operation Cyber Guardian 2 www.youtube.com

Disney employee, corrections officer, deputy police chief, teachers, among 160 arrested in Florida during undercover operation targeting human trafficking



There were 160 people arrested during an undercover sting targeting human trafficking. A Disney employee, corrections officer, a former deputy police chief, and teachers were among those arrested.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office led several law enforcement agencies in an undercover investigation called "Operation Fall Haul 2." The seven-day sting operation focused on cracking down on human trafficking crimes.

During the press conference about Operation Fall Haul, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd joked, "Where would we be with an undercover operation and no Disney employees? Oh yes, we always have Disney employees."

Disney bellhop Guillermo Perez, 57, was arrested after trying to have sex with an undercover detective for $80, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Samy Claude, 26, who was often contracted by Disney as a photographer, was also arrested. He reportedly attempted to have sex with an undercover cop and offered her a bag of sour Skittles.

Keith Nieves, 24, was arrested for two counts of soliciting a prostitute. Nieves is a correctional officer at the Lake County Correctional Institution.

Jason DiPrima, 49, allegedly gave an undercover detective $180 and a multi-pack of White Claw Hard Seltzer. At the time of his arrest, DiPrima was the Deputy Chief of Administration for the Cartersville Police Department in Georgia. DiPrima has since resigned from his position.

"He is no longer a police officer in Cartersville, Georgia, and he needs to work on reconstructing his life with his family. He did a very mean, nasty thing to his family and he certainly embarrassed all the people of Cartersville," Judd said during a news conference. "The Cartersville Police Department is a very professional police department in Georgia and they didn’t deserve what Jason (DiPrima) did."

Grady Judd: Disney worker, teachers among 160 arrested in Polk County human trafficking investigatio www.youtube.com

Carlos Davenport, 36, allegedly attempted to have sex with two undercover detectives. Gonzalez is a math teacher at New Dimensions High School in Osceola County.

John Layton, 26, agreed to pay $40 for a sex act, according to police. Layton is a non-faculty coach at West Orange High School in Orange County. At the time of his arrest, he was purportedly wearing a school track and field shirt.

Cameron Burke, 43, was charged with soliciting a prostitute. Burke was currently out on bond for lewd and lascivious battery on a 15-year-old student at Oak Ridge High School in Orange County. At the time of his arrest for child sexual abuse, Burke was employed as a computer technician for the school.

John Glass of Verona, 61, was arrested for soliciting a prostitute for unprotected sex, according to police. Glass was reportedly on vacation in Kissimmee with his family from Kentucky. He was one of 15 people from outside of Florida to be arrested during the sting.

During the sex trafficking operation, a woman allegedly attempted to sell a pound of marijuana to an undercover detective while she had her 2-year-old child with her.

Law enforcement seized cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), and marijuana during the undercover sting.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said seven people were arrested and suspected of being in the country illegally.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said it had encountered two human trafficking victims during the operation, along with five other possible victims.

WFLA reported, "One of the victims deputies encountered was a woman who was 10 weeks pregnant and was given drugs and fentanyl in hopes to abort her unborn child, who she did not want."

For the human trafficking victims, the operation had the following social service organizations to assist: One More Child, Heartland for Children, My Name My Voice, and the Children’s Home Society of Florida.

"From the moment they come into the operation, we want to immediately hand them off to our social service friends and our counselors so they can begin working with these victims of human trafficking," Judd noted.

You can watch the entire press conference about the operation to tackle human trafficking by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd below.

Grady Judd: Disney worker, teachers among 160 arrested in Polk County human trafficking investigatio www.youtube.com

More than 100 arrested during multi-day undercover operation in Florida related to prostitution, child predators



More than 100 people were recently arrested during "Operation March Sadness 2," a six-day undercover operation that led to the arrest of child predators and people seeking to engage prostitution, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida.

According to a press release, a 27-year-old man named Xavier Jackson was arrested after communicating with an undercover detective who had been pretending to be a 14-year-old girl — he "sent [the detective] sexual images and graphic descriptions of what he wanted to do," according to the sheriff's office.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd noted during a news conference that the Jackson worked as a lifeguard at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

Operation March Sadness II news conference youtu.be

Shannon Johnson, a 41-year-old man who thought he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl, sent a naked picture of himself and went to a home with the plan to engage in sexual activity, according to the press release, which noted that Johnson was arrested.

Also among the 108 people arrested was Daniel Peters, a retired Cook County Illinois judge who was charged with soliciting a prostitute. "He requested an attorney," Judd said during the news conference. "Well judge, you need an attorney, you got problems."

"The arrests of a human trafficker and four child predators alone makes this whole operation worthwhile," Judd said, according to a statement included in the press release. "The on-line prostitution industry enables traffickers and victimizes those who are being trafficked. Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help, and find and arrest those who are profiting from the exploitation of human beings. Johns fuel the trafficking and victimization. Where there is prostitution, there is exploitation, disease, dysfunction, and broken families."

Florida sheriff tells new residents don't 'vote the stupid way you did up north' as Gov. DeSantis signs anti-rioting law



A Florida sheriff on Monday advised new residents of the state who moved south from liberal states against "voting the stupid way you did up north."

The remarks were made by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd during a news conference held by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) at the signing ceremony of a new anti-rioting bill passed by the legislature. Judd, who last September grabbed headlines for giving members of the media a visual aid to help them tell the difference between a peaceful protest and a riot, praised the governor and Senate President Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, and other lawmakers for prioritizing the safety of Floridians.

"Florida is a unique place and a special place. It's where we work, where we live, but it's also where the world comes to play, to bring their children — and their children have a right to be safe," the sheriff said.

He contrasted DeSantis' leadership in Florida with the governments of Seattle, Portland, and Minneapolis, where Black Lives Matter protests have devolved into violent riots that have set those communities aflame.

"That's no way to treat the community. That's no way to treat those that put their entire life into building their business," Judd said.

"We saw folks' businesses around this nation who literally worked their entire life and had every penny in their life savings involved. We're going to proactive and we're going to make sure people are safe," he continued, holding up a picture of a peaceful protest next to a picture of a riot, as seen in video reported by WTVT-TV.

"Pay attention, we got a new law and we're going to use it if you make us. We're going to protect the people."

The new law, "Combating Public Disorder," would criminalize "mob intimidation" — such as the practices of protesters accosting people at restaurants — and would increase penalties for rioting, looting, and related violence. The bill would also create legal protections for fleeing motorists who cause injury or death to rioters while attempting to drive away to safety.

"We saw unprecedented rioting throughout 2020," DeSantis said during the news conference. "We wanted to make sure we protect the people of our great state, businesses and property against any type of mob activity. We're here today being prepared to sign that bill into law."

Rioting erupted in cities across the nation last year when 36-year-old George Floyd died in police custody. The officer, Derek Chauvin, had knelt on Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes and is now on trial for Floyd's murder.

DeSantis proposed the anti-rioting law in response to the nationwide wave of violence last year, warning would-be rioters that there will be consequences for violence in Florida.

"If you are involved in a violent or disorderly assembly and you harm somebody, if you throw a brick and hit a police officer, you're going to jail, and there's going to be a mandatory minimum jail sentence of at least six months for anyone who strikes a police officer, either with a weapon or projectile. And we're also not going to simply let people back out on the street," DeSantis previously said. "So if you are in custody for one of these offenses relating to a violent or disorderly assembly, you're not getting bail before your first appearance.

"If you are from another state and you come to participate in one of these violent or disorderly assemblies, you're going to have extra penalties imposed on you as well," he added.

The new law also penalizes the destruction of "memorials" by creating a felony crime for defacing, damaging, destroying, or pulling down memorials or historic property if the damage is more than $200. Persons convicted of crimes under this law would be responsible for restoration or replacement of the property.

Judd, speaking after DeSantis Monday, used another visual aid to show the media why people come to Florida, holding up a picture of families vacationing at the beach and at Disney World.

"This is what we enjoy in Florida. This is the Florida we know and love. This is what our governor, our speaker, our president — this what all these law enforcement officers, and administrators, and sheriffs and police chiefs and their officers do every day — they guarantee an environment where you can come here and have fun," Judd said.

He continued:

This is the Florida we know and love. We're a special place. And there are millions and millions of people who like to come here. And quite frankly, we like to have them here. So, we only want to share one thing as you move in hundreds a day:

Welcome to Florida! But don't register to vote and vote the stupid way you did up north, you'll get what they got!

There's a reason that this place is fun. There's a reason why we have a 49-year-low crime rate. And the same people that don't think we should have an anti-rioting bill, or a rioting bill, are the same ones that think we ought to let more people out of prison. And where they're doing that ... crime goes up. But it's not just crime that goes up, victimization goes up. The people of those states are hurt and killed and their livelihoods change and their children are changed.

Florida sheriff uses pictures to help confused press: 'This is a peaceful protest. This is a riot.'



As TheBlaze has frequently documented, sometimes the media have difficulty distinguishing between peaceful protests and destructive riots. Well, one Florida sheriff decided to provide a visual aid for members of the press who can't seem to tell the difference.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on Monday held up photos contrasting a peaceful protest with a violent riot at a news conference announcing new anti-riot legislation.

"I can tell you folks so that there's no misunderstanding today," Sheriff Judd said as he held the photos. "This is a peaceful protest. This is a riot. We can tell the difference. The governor can tell the difference. Our law enforcement officers can tell the difference."

In typical Grady Judd fashion, the Polk Co. sheriff brought cue cards to the governor's press conference to help il… https://t.co/HMB5Ewldoj
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA NEWS)1600710522.0

"In the event you didn't get that, let me show you something," the sheriff continued, holding up two more photos. "This is peaceful protest. This is looting. If you loot, the next thing you can try to steal is something off of your food tray at the county jail because you're going to jail, that's a guarantee. And we're going to enjoy taking you down there."

Judd then held up two more photos for the "slow learners."

"This is peaceful protest. This is violence. It's not acceptable."

"I truly believe in our God-given right and our constitutional right to speak openly and freely to address our government. That's important. We listen every day. But I've also watched across this country when law enforcement officers who put their life on the line were told to stand down," Judd continued.

Judd spoke at a news conference held by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announcing new anti-riot legislation that will be introduced in the state legislature this upcoming session. The "Combating Violence, Disorder, and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act" will make participation in a violent demonstration a felony and also will protect fleeing motorists from any liability for causing injury or death to mob members while they attempt to drive away for safety.

Additionally, the bill increases penalties for toppling monuments, criminalizes disorderly assemblies harassing civilians at restaurants, and targets funders and organizers of violent riots with state RICO charges.

"If you are involved in a violent or disorderly assembly and you harm somebody, if you throw a brick and hit a police officer, you're going to jail, and there's going to be a mandatory minimum jail sentence of at least six months for anyone who strikes a police officer, either with a weapon or projectile. And we're also not going to simply let people back out on the street," DeSantis said. "So if you are in custody for one of these offenses relating to a violent or disorderly assembly, you're not getting bail before your first appearance."

"If you are from another state and you come to participate in one of these violent or disorderly assemblies, you're going to have extra penalties imposed on you as well," DeSantis added.