A massive human trafficking and child predator sting in Polk County has resulted in 266 arrests, including a prominent social media influencer and two men who allegedly brought children along to their illegal meetups.
The multi-agency operation, titled “Polk Around and Find Out,” targeted both those seeking to exploit minors and individuals soliciting prostitutes.
The arrest of 41-year-old Craig Long, owner of Craig Long Fitness in Tampa, became a focal point of the investigation’s announcement. Long, a self-described MAGA influencer with a following on TikTok and Instagram, has frequently posted content praising Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and law enforcement. During a news conference, Sheriff Judd displayed photos of Long with high-profile political figures, including the President and his son.
“He’s an influencer. He also owns Craig Long Fitness in Tampa. He was seeking the services of a prostitute,” Sheriff Judd said. “Now, we’d like to see people who make mistakes early in life—and he had a long history—straightened up. We like the fact that he likes the cops. Heck, he liked them so much, he got caught up in a sting and got to be rubbing up and real close with the cops.”
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According to the Sheriff’s Office, Long maintained a positive attitude toward the officers during his arrest, expressing his continued appreciation for law enforcement despite being caught in the human trafficking enforcement operation.
The investigation also led to child neglect charges against two men who brought children to the undercover locations after arranging to pay for sex. These cases were part of a larger surge that saw 19 suspects arrested for traveling to meet minors and 247 others arrested for crimes related to prostitution.
Detectives and social service advocates identified seven potential human trafficking victims during the operation. These individuals were offered immediate assistance from groups like One More Child and the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking.
The operation’s reach was international, with suspects hailing from 18 different countries and 11 different states. Of the total 266 arrested, 167 lived outside of Polk County. The youngest suspect was 18, while the oldest was 68.
In total, the sting resulted in 439 new charges—298 of which were felonies—against individuals who held a combined 1,028 prior criminal charges. Other notable incidents included the seizure of four firearms, 21 narcotics charges, and one woman who was arrested twice in the same sting after bonding out and immediately returning to undercover advertisements.
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