POLK Co., Fla. (WWSB) -- The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested 104 suspects during a six-day-long undercover investigation focusing on human trafficking.
Of the 104 arrested, 38 were prostitutes, 51 were people who solicited to pay for prostitution, 14 others were arrested for related charges, such as deriving proceeds from prostitution, one was arrested for traveling to meet a minor, and 23 told detectives they were married.
Detectives filed 37 felony charges and 128 misdemeanor charges against the 104 suspects.
Detectives seized two firearms, and drugs including marijuana, oxycodone, heroin, and cocaine.
Many of the prostitutes traveled to Florida, and told detectives they travel across the country, having sex for money.
The suspects ranged in age from 20 to 63-years-old.
Sheriff Grady Judd said, "We suspect that some of the people who arrived at our undercover location are victims of human trafficking. We are proud of our partnership with The Porch Light Organization, who continue to work with us during investigations like this one, to help provide much needed resources to human trafficking victims."
Some noteworthy arrests:
Dirk Watson, 32, of Merritt Island, traveled to the undercover location to have sex with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. According to his affidavit, Watson, began chatting online to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. During their online conversation, Watson solicited the "girl" to engage in sexual activity. Watson then drove to the undercover location.
He was arrested and charged with: Use of Computer To Seduce Child, Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony, Traveling to Meet a Minor, and Lewd Molestation.
Watson is an active-duty Captain in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and a coach for his son's little league baseball team. His wife and two children were at Disney World, and he was going to join them on Sunday. Instead, he was arrested on Saturday evening.
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24-year-old Vera Vinnitskiy, of Northport, FL, arrived at the undercover location with co-defendant 23-year-old Yelena Sarioglo, of Largo, FL, to engage in sexual activity with undercover detectives in exchange for money.
They both had ads posted online. Both were arrested and charged with Offering to Engage in Lewdness, and post-Miranda, told detectives that they left their young children at home with Sarioglo's boyfriend in Largo. Detectives contacted the Largo Police Department and DCF to respond to the home and check on the children.
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53-year-old Steven Abboud, of Davenport, FL, replied to a fictitious ad placed by an undercover detective and arrived at the undercover location to have sex with a prostitute.
He left his three children at home with a coworker, and told them he was going to the bank. He has an extensive criminal history, including prior arrests for drugs, lewdness, and organized crime.
