Seventeen employees associated with Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando were among 281 people arrested during a massive undercover operation targeting child sexual predators and human trafficking in Polk County, Florida, Sheriff Grady Judd announced Friday.

The seven-day operation, called "Polk Around and Find Out II," involved two separate undercover investigations targeting adults seeking sexual encounters with minors and individuals involved in prostitution and human trafficking networks. Authorities reported 31 arrests involving suspects accused of attempting to meet children for unlawful sexual activity, while the broader operation resulted in 281 arrests and 488 new criminal charges.

Of the 17 theme park employees identified by investigators, 13 were associated with Disney and four with Universal. Sheriff Judd said seven of the theme park workers were among those arrested in the child predator investigation.

"It is extremely disturbing when we encounter nasty child predators like these who are very eager to have sex with children. This is why we conduct these types of undercover operations," Judd said.

One of the suspects drawing particular attention was 24-year-old Collin Klaco, a former Disney World employee who previously performed as Mickey Mouse. According to investigators, Klaco communicated online with a detective posing as the guardian of a 13-year-old boy before traveling to Polk County for what he believed would be a sexual encounter.

When authorities arrested him, they discovered two backpacks filled with diapers, some bearing Disney branding. Klaco reportedly told investigators he was no longer employed by Disney, although he had previously worked as one of the park's costumed characters. He faces charges including traveling to meet a minor, online solicitation and attempted lewd and lascivious battery on a minor.

Another suspect was 31-year-old Rashawn Crayton, head coach of the Davenport Titans youth football team. The organization serves children between the ages of 11 and 14 and competes in the Mid Florida Youth Conference.

Judd said Crayton believed he was traveling to meet a 14-year-old girl. Investigators said he sent sexually explicit messages to an undercover officer posing as the teenager, including offering to pick her up from school. When he arrived at the meeting location, authorities said he brought a battery-powered sexual device and other items.

The operation also uncovered suspects with connections to law enforcement and the military. An Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested in the prostitution investigation, while an active-duty Navy sailor was among those accused of seeking sexual encounters with minors.

Authorities reported that 24 suspects brought firearms to the undercover meetings. Another 32 people arrested were identified as being in the country illegally, with 16 subsequently transferred into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Investigators also identified 11 human trafficking victims during the operation and offered them assistance and support services.

The 281 arrests included 239 prostitution-related cases, 31 arrests involving alleged child sexual predators and 11 additional arrests, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Investigators said the suspects collectively faced 488 new charges, including 198 felonies.

Disney cooperated with investigators, and Judd said the company confirmed that all 13 of its employees identified in the operation had been fired. The employment status of the four Universal employees was not as clearly established in the available reporting.

The arrests have also renewed scrutiny of the presence of individuals accused of targeting children in organizations and workplaces that regularly interact with families. Government Accountability Institute President and Breitbart News senior contributor Peter Schweizer pointed to the issue in a post on X, recalling his 1998 book, Disney: The Mouse Betrayed, which examined allegations involving predators working at Disney World.

"I first wrote about predators working at Disney World in the book 'Disney the Mouse Betrayed' in 1998," Schweizer wrote. "That book forced the Mouse to conduct criminal background checks. But…13 park employees just picked up in a sting."

Judd described the operation as the largest undercover investigation in the history of his sheriff's office. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also praised the participating law enforcement agencies and said authorities would pursue the cases against those arrested.

The investigation serves as another warning about the dangers children face from adults attempting to exploit them online. Authorities have urged parents to monitor their children's online activity and remain attentive to the adults with whom they interact. The suspects face criminal proceedings, and the charges against them have not yet been adjudicated.