Under arrest are: Lance Lohman of Flagler Beach Patrick Cadet, Joseph Bourke Jr., Anthony Glover, Matthew Wiley, Wesley Barham, Joseph Milici, Patrick LeRoy, Trevor Mobley, Kevin Spearmon, Sebastian Dominguez, Joseph Martino, Max Martino, Jason Dixon and Jessica Groth of Palm Coast Gaines Smith, Leon Brown Jr., Eleaser Johnson, Charles Phillips, Michael Underwood, Juan Gipson, Cornelius Johnson and Alfred Shavers of Bunnell Drummond Hamilton of Deland and Christopher Stearns of New Smyrna. Many of the names on the arrest warrant list were locals, although warrants were also served on a Deland and New Smyrna resident, Flagler County Sheriff James Manfre said. Undercover law enforcement personnel purchased marijuana, oxycodone and crack cocaine from street dealers in Bunnell, Flagler Beach and Palm Coast during the operation. The charges ranged from possession and sale of marijuana to tampering with evidence and sale of crack cocaine, oxycodone and morphine. Drug Enforcement Agency agents, the State Attorney's Office and Bunnell Police Department. ![]() The investigation involved the Flagler Sheriff's Office's Narcotics Enforcement Team, U.S. ![]() Kathy Leigh Berkowitz can be reached at or at 86.Twenty-three Flagler County men and women and two more from Volusia County were swept up Tuesday in "Operation Spring Cleaning" as authorities served arrest warrants in a two-month undercover drug investigation. “It should be well-known by now that Polk County is not a good place to be involved with prostitution, thanks to operations such as this.” Prostitution is also a public safety issue involving the spread of diseases, the use of and dealing in illegal drugs, and other criminal activity that is associated with prostitution,” Judd said. "The primary goal in operations like this is to find victims of human trafficking who are being manipulated into prostitution. Monday, June 3, 2018, as Operation Spring Cleaning neared its conclusion, members of the Organized Crime Unit concluded a six-month drug investigation involving (30) individuals. Judd said that among the 154 suspects, there were a total of 567 previous felonies and 695 previous misdemeanor charges in their criminal histories. ![]() Total charges numbered 46 felonies and 202 misdemeanor charges. The organization is dedicated to counseling and rehabilitation services for victims of human trafficking.Īccording to reports, the suspects ranged in age from 17-69 years old. People should not be sold,” said Christa Hicks, executive director of the anti-trafficking advocacy group One More Child. Judd said a 17-year-old boy who traveled to the undercover location was not charged with any crimes, but is being considered a victim of human trafficking. Two women have been identified as victims of human trafficking, according to reports. The operation was conducted over a six-day period, the agency reported.ĭetectives and members of police departments from Lakeland, Winter Haven and Haines City contributed to sting.Īccording to Sheriff Grady Judd, the investigation revealed two of the suspects arrested were traveling to have sex with a person they believed was a 14-year-old boy. The multi-agency operation was an effort to identify and aid potential victims of human trafficking, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities said 23 suspected child predators were arrested in multiple counties after an undercover investigation dubbed 'Operation Spring Cleaning'. Of those nabbed in what the agency called "Operation No Spring Fling," 69 are suspected prostitutes, 75 are suspected sex solicitors, eight were arrested on "related charges, such as deriving proceeds from prostitution" and two were arrests for allegedly traveling to meet a minor for sex. WINTER HAVEN - A large-scale prostitution sting by the Polk County Sheriff's Office led to the arrest of 154 people, Sheriff Grady Judd announced at a news conference Tuesday. PHOTOS: Operation Spring Cleaning - Eight men have been arrested for soliciting minors for sex as a part of the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Offices Operation Spring Cleaning.
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