Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrests 108 during 6-day human trafficking campaign, “Operation March Sadness 2”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd discussed more than 100 arrests made during an undercover operation that in part focused on human trafficking, according to the agency. YouTube Tips ⓘ
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit this week arrested 108 people during a six-day undercover human trafficking operation, “Operation March Sadness 2,” which began on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. The suspects included former Cook County Judge Daniel Peters of Palos Hills, Illinois.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) was assisted in the effort by police departments from Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales, and Auburndale, as well as the Office of the State Attorney 10th Judicial Court, members from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The PCSO was also assisted by anti-human trafficking organizations One More Child, Heartland for Children, and Selah Freedom of Sarasota.
Detectives identified prostitutes who posted online advertisements as well as the “johns” who were seeking out the prostitutes via online communications, with the intent to identify and free any victims who were being forced into prostitution (human trafficking), or anyone participating in the trafficking of victims. Detectives also identified and investigated adults who engaged in online sexually charged communications with those they believed were children. Four males were arrested for preying on children online. One of the alleged predators, Xavier Jackson, works as a lifeguard at the Polynesian Resort for Disney, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Three suspects charged with attempting to Solicit a Prostitute also worked at Disney. The solicitation suspects — not charged with crimes targeting children — were identified as Wilkason Fidele, 24, who worked at the Cosmic Restaurant at Walt Disney World’s Tomorrowland for four years; Shubham Malave, 27, a software developer for Disney; and Ralph Leese, 45, an IT employee with four years experience at Disney. Shubham Malave is currently on a visa citizenship from India at the time of his arrest.
“The arrests of a human trafficker and four child predators alone makes this whole operation worthwhile. The online 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.”
— Grady Judd, Sheriff
Undercover detectives communicated online with the suspects and arranged for a meetup at a location where they were arrested after their arrival.
Members of the anti-trafficking organizations were on hand to speak with the prostitutes to help determine if they were human trafficking victims—they were offered services and counseling.
One of the ‘Johns’ — a 67 year-old male — showed up to meet a prostitute while drinking Ensure.
The oldest person arrested was 67-year old Derek Collins who showed up to the residence drinking Ensure, the youngest was a 17-year old male. Both were arrested for soliciting for a prostitute.
Among the 108 arrests made (First Degree (F1) and Third Degree (F3) Felonies and First Degree Misdemeanors (M1), there were several which stood out, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Human Trafficking Suspect:
Tiffany Nash, age 32 of Orlando, was arrested for trafficking another woman in prostitution. The woman, an adult female, arrived at the residence as a prostitute, but an investigation revealed that Nash repeatedly threatened violence against the victim if she didn’t prostitute herself. Nash would take all money derived from the victim’s prostitution. When Nash arrived at the location to check on the victim, she was taken into custody and charged with: Human Trafficking (F1), Deriving Proceeds from Prostitution (F2), Possession of Cocaine (F3), Possession of Methamphetamine (F3), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1). Tiffany Nash also worked as a manager at an Orlando, Florida Kentucky Fried Chicken.
“I just don’t believe I’d want any finger-lickin’ good chicken that she touched, just saying.”
Police County Sheriff Grady Judd
Nash’s victim was provided the assistance of one of the anti-trafficking organizations.
Child Predators
Timothy Finley, age 39 of Mulberry, began communicating online with an undercover detective, thinking he was chatting with a 13-year old female. Finley traveled to the residence with the intent for sexual conduct with her. He was arrested and charged with: Travel to Meet a Minor/Using Computer to Lure (F2), Attempted Lewd Battery (F3), Transmit Material Harmful to Minor (F3), Possession of Methamphetamine (F3), Resisting (M1), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1).
Shannon Johnson, age 41 of Orlando, believed he was chatting online with a 13-year old female, sent a nude photo, and then travelled to the residence with the intent for sexual conduct with her. He was arrested and charged with: Travel to Meet a Minor/Using Computer to Lure (F2), Attempted Lewd Battery (F3), and Transmit Material Harmful to Minor (F3).
Jody Rose, age 36 of Gainesville, communicated online and via text with an undercover detective posing as a 13-year old girl. Rose sent sexual images and graphic descriptions of what he wanted to do. A warrant was obtained on Rose for Transmission of Material Harmful to a Minor (10-counts, F3) and Unlawful Use of 2-Way Communication Device (F3), and he was arrested in Alachua County.
Xavier Jackson, age 27 of Kissimmee, communicated online and via text with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year old girl. During the communication, Jackson sent sexual images and graphic descriptions of what he wanted to do. A warrant was obtained for Jackson for Transmission of Material Harmful to a Minor (3-counts, F3) and Unlawful Use of 2-Way Communication Device (F3).
Other notables…
Seth Phillips, age 49 of Bradenton, arrived with a woman, 34-year old Christina Garite, with the intent of both committing prostitution with two undercover detectives. When a detective tried to cancel the meet-up due to a scheduling conflict, Phillips became angry, and made demands that the undercover detectives would have to give him money for the appointment and for the drugs he was going to sell them. Phillips showed up at the residence, and when detectives opened the door, he pointed a gun at them. Phillips was arrested and charged with: Attempted Armed Robbery with Firearm (F2), Extortion/Threats (F2), Possession of Meth with Intent to Sell (F2), Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon (4-counts, F3), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1), Offering to Commit Prostitution (M2).
James Compton, age 42 of Kissimmee, told detectives that he is married with eight children, and had left one of his children at a soccer game taking place nearby in order to meet with a prostitute. He was arrested and charged with soliciting a prostitute. Compton was charged with Soliciting a Prostitute (M1).
Daniel Peters, age 66 of Palos Hills, Illinois told detectives, that he is a retired judge (Cook County 4th Sub Circuit) and a Special Assistant for Legal Affairs at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois. He was charged with Soliciting a Prostitute (M1).
According to Ballotpedia, Daniel Lawrence Peters was a judge on the Cook County 4th Subcircuit in Illinois. He was appointed to a term that began on August 1, 2011 and expired on December 3, 2012.He unsuccessfully ran for election to the Cook County 4th Subcircuit in 2014. Daniel Peters was defeated in the Democratic primary on March 18, 2014, receiving 12.0 percent of the vote. He competed against Brian Joseph Stephenson, John J. Mahoney, James Ryan and Maureen Masterson Pulia.
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