According to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a Disney World employee was among 12 men arrested for allegedly soliciting children online for sex.
The arrests happened as part of the two-week-long undercover operation called “Operation Child Protector II.” It is an investigation which focuses on online solicitation of minors.
During the undercover operation, detectives from Polk Sheriff’s Office, Auburndale Police Department, and Winter Haven Police Department all posed as children on social media platforms, mobile apps, and online dating sites.
The detectives would investigate those who prey upon and travel to meet up with children for unlawful sexual activities.
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12 Men Arrested For Allegedly Soliciting Children Online For Sex
The ages of the men ranged from 20 to 67 and all of them are facing a total of 49 felonies. Those charges include: traveling to meet a minor for sex; attempted lewd battery; use of a computer to seduce a child; use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony; and transmission of material harmful to a child.
Per the press release, “Detectives obtained warrants for eight other suspects who were arrested and booked into jails in their respective counties. Additional suspects were charged via warrant after transmitting pornographic images and/or grooming and soliciting the children online; they are still at-large in Florida and detectives are actively looking for them.”
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Disney World Employee Among 12 Men Arrested For Allegedly Soliciting Children Online For Sex
As mentioned, one of the suspects named in the investigation is Zachary Hudson. He is a 30 year old Florida man who is employed by Disney World as a bus driver.
It is reported that earlier this month, Hudson allegedly exchanged messages online with an undercover detective, who was posing as a 15 year old girl. Posing as the teen, the undercover official asked Hudson if “her” age made him uncomfortable. He replied and said that he was ok with her age as long as “my being older doesn’t bother you,” later adding, “age is just a number.”
Per the press release, the conversation moved from online to text messaging. During this time, Hudson would begin to describe the things he wanted to do to the teen sexually, and claiming that he would be “honored” to take her virginity.
Hudson also told the teen, and the detectives upon his arrest, that he was employed by Walt Disney World as a bus driver. During the communication with the undercover detective, Hudson sent nude pictures of himself.
Investigating detectives eventually obtained a warrant for Hudson’s arrest and he was soon taken into custody in Orlando, Florida and booked into the Orange County Jail.
Upon being arrested, Hudson was charged with one count of use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, and one count of transmitting material harmful to a minor.
The press release also says, “Of the suspects who had warrants, all of them sent sexually explicit images and/or videos to who they thought were 13, 14, and 15 year old girls. Two of the suspects are from out of state and are in custody there, in Michigan and Alabama. Three of these suspects have criminal histories.”
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