Officials said 101 arrests were made during a two-week sting to target sexual predators, and those involved in prostitution. Polk County and Lake County Sheriffs Departments teamed up in Traveler Operation "L & P" on May 18.
The two departments operated out of a house in Clermont, where they lured sexual predators into thinking they were meeting up with a minor, between the ages of 10 and 14.
Sheriff Grady Judd said the relationships started online on media platforms like Grinder (a social application online for men seeking other male relationships), and conversations advanced to the point where in-face meetings were arranged with sexual attentions behind them.
"These are very dangerous people," said Sheriff Judd. "They are after your child."
Judd said three theme park workers were arrested in the sting: Jeff Conrad III, 22, Tomas Adames, 29, and Ryan Mayer, 24. Judd said Conrad worked at Disney World, though Disney had no record of Conrad ever being employed there. Universal said Adames was no longer employed at the park, but they wouldn't specify if his termination was a direct result of his arrest.
Sea World confirmed that Mayer was an employee of theirs, but he had only been working in guest arrivals at the park for two weeks.
"Why do these people work at theme parks?" Judd said. "Because that's where the children are."
Another 79 arrests were made in relation to prostitution activity. One of the arrests involved a man who paid for a prostitute, had multiple Jaguar luxury cars in his driveway, but at the same time, was receiving food stamps.
"I guess he saves his real money for the prostitutes," Judd added.
Judd said he was pleased with the results. The 22 sexual predator arrests were made in the course of two weeks. But Judd noted that arrests were easier to come by in the past.
"We used to catch 40-50," he said.
Judd said the operation is officially over, but they will still be on the lookout for further activity.
"We are after you. Are investigators will be looking for you, and we will catch you," Judd said.
Check back for more on this developing story.