Massive Florida human trafficking bust: 29 arrested for prostitution and drug charges, 4 victims rescued
The Brief
A recent Florida undercover operation led to a massive human trafficking bust.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office said they were able to arrest 29 people for prostitution and drug charges, as well as rescue four victims.
Officials said they were able to provide resources to safely relocate and stabilize the victims.
Detectives said they were able to arrest one of the suspects responsible for trafficking one of the victims during the investigation, and additional arrests related to the remaining three human trafficking victims are pending further investigation.
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - A recent Florida undercover operation has led to a massive human trafficking bust.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office said the operation led to the arrest of 29 people for prostitution and drug charges.
In addition, deputies reported rescuing four victims. They said they were able to provide resources to safely relocate and stabilize them.
The backstory
The Lake County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Bureau recently conducted a three-day human trafficking operation, which they called "Operation Forced Labor."
Reports show that the operation was conducted from Feb. 6-8 at an undisclosed location in the central part of Lake County.
Deputies said the focus of the undercover operation was the identification, safe recovery and stabilization of human trafficking victims.
The investigation was a collaboration between detectives from the Clermont, Eustis, Leesburg and Mount Dora police departments, along with detectives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security.
During the operation, detectives said they worked in an undercover capacity using various known prostitution websites to solicit prostitutes and individuals looking for services provided by prostitutes.
During the operation, 33 individuals traveled to meet undercover detectives with the intent of engaging in criminal activity, officials stated.
What's next
Detectives said they were able to arrest one of the suspects responsible for trafficking one of the victims during the investigation: Darion Smith.
Additional arrests related to the remaining three human trafficking victims are pending further investigation, reports show.
Officials from multiple organizations said they collaborated to help provide monetary aid to the victims to supplement necessary expenses associated with recovery and stabilization, such as food, clothing, temporary lodging and transportation.
Lead detectives said they plan to maintain communication with the victims to support continued stabilization efforts and to attempt to facilitate relationships between victims and non-governmental support organizations.
What they're saying
"This was a collaborative effort," Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said. "Our detectives and other law enforcement partners worked very hard together to identify and rescue these victims of human trafficking and connect them to valuable resources that are available to assist them. We want these victims to know there is a way out."
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source
This story was written based on information shared by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Polk County man charged with child sex crimes
HALFWAY, Mo. — A man from Polk County faces several felonies following an investigation related to the sexual exploitation of a child. According to court dockets, Kyle Thomas Otto Bishop, born 1992, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor child; two counts of second-degree child molestation of a child less than 12 years old; three counts of first-degree promoting child pornography; and three counts of possession of child pornography. The criminal complaint says the child sexual exploitation crimes occurred around May 25, 2025. Bishop created child pornography of a child less than 14 years of age by creating a video depicting himself removing the victim's clothing to expose her genitals and touching the child's genitals with his hand. Benton County treasurer charged with child enticement using Grindr The complaint also says Bishop created child pornography by creating a video depicting himself placing his genitals into the victim's mouth. Additionally, the complaint says Bishop disseminated three videos containing child sexual abuse material. He also possessed videos and images containing child sexual abuse material, as well. Bishop is being held in the Polk County Jail with a $500,000 bond set. If convicted, he faces life in prison. 'Protecting the most vulnerable victims of Polk County will always be our top priority,' said Polk County Sheriff Danny Morrison in a social media post. 'I'm thankful for the men and women at the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the detectives and deputies at the Polk County Sheriff's Office, for the work they do every day to protect our children.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Former Connecticut police officer charged with DUI in Florida
LAKELAND, Fla. (WTNH) — Florida authorities say a former Connecticut police officer was arrested for DUI Saturday night after nearly crashing into a Polk County Sheriff's Office vehicle. Michael Dimeglio, 42, was charged with DUI (M2). His BAC was recorded at 0.168, which is more than twice the legal limit. RELATED: Two Norwalk police officers arrested after being found in hotel room together on duty The charge stems from when deputies noticed Dimeglio's Chevrolet Camaro drifting lanes and moving into oncoming traffic. At one point, they say he veered into the path of a PCSO deputy, prompting the deputy to brake suddenly to avoid a collision. Dimeglio failed to stop his car multiple times for deputies, and when he did, they reported his eyes were bloodshot and watery and they could smell the odor of alcohol on his breath. They also said they asked for his driver's license at least three times and each time, he seemed to give a different response without actually delivering it. When Dimeglio got out of his car, deputies said he was unsteady and had to use the vehicle for support to stand. He was also reportedly slurring his speech and had dilated pupils. He told deputies he had consumed alcohol while at the beach. Deputies said Dimeglio told them he was a police officer for Norwalk for nine years and terminated for misconduct in 2020. In 2021, he and another officer were arrested following an October 2020 incident during which they were found in a hotel room together while on duty. 'This reckless behavior put lives in danger, and it's especially disappointing coming from someone who once wore a badge. Law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard, and this former officer made a choice that could have cost lives,' Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Miami Herald
Horse held years in dark Florida barn has joyous reaction when freed. See video
A young stallion that spent much of its life in a stall has been freed as part of an animal cruelty investigation, and video of his joyous reaction is getting hundreds of thousands of views on social media. The clip, just 20 seconds long, shows 2-year-old Thunder reacting to wide open spaces with a burst of energy, running in circles, bucking and kicking up his hooves. 'He was kept in a very small stall in a dark barn and never turned out to pasture,' the Polk County Sheriff's Office wrote in a June 3 Facebook post. 'This is his first time ever experiencing a pasture and being able to run free (well somewhat free) and he is loving it.' Thunder, a Paso Fino, was rescued Sunday, June 1, when the Polk County Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit followed up on a tip about two horses looking malnourished at a Lake Wales farm, about a 60-mile drive east from Tampa. Deputies arrived to find seven live horses and one dead one, along with 11 goats and two sheep. Three of the live horses appeared 'neglected and in poor condition,' the sheriff's office said in a news release. When questioned, the homeowner 'told detectives that he was taking care of the animals for a friend but that it was too expensive to feed them, and that he told the friend to come get the animals three months ago,' the sheriff's office said. All the animals, including Thunder, were seized and the homeowner was charged with felony animal cruelty and three counts of confining animals without proper food, care, and sustenance, officials said. The video of Thunder kicking up his heels was posted June 3 and had racked up more than 530,000 views and 1,700 comments as of June 5, many noting the ordeal had clearly not broken the horse's spirit. 'Seeing him run brings tears to my eyes,' Debbie Hendrix posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page. 'You can watch him and just see how spirited, free and how happy he is now,' Mary Jane Favell Scalzo wrote. Thunder's temporary home is the Polk County Sheriff's Office Stockade, which is 'Horsey Heaven' compared to his past accommodations, the sheriff's office said. His future remains uncertain. In a 'best case scenario' all the confiscated animals will be surrendered to the sheriff's office, officials said. However, the homeowner says some of the animals are owned by other people. 'So the owner(s) could come forward and surrender them, or the PCSO may have to get a court order to take custody,' the sheriff's office said. 'Once we get custody, we typically turn the horses over to a nearby horse rescue that cares for them and finds them a loving home.'
