LAKELAND, FL – Nineteen suspects were arrested during a multi-day joint-agency undercover operation led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office targeting individuals who prey on children and travel to meet them for unlawful sexual activity.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Child Protector VIII,” involved detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office along with multiple partnering agencies, including:
• Polk County Sheriff’s Office
• Auburndale Police Department
• Davenport Police Department
• Lake City Police Department
• Orlando Police Department
• Hardee County Sheriff’s Office
• Highlands County Sheriff’s Office
• Marion County Sheriff’s Office
• Osceola County Sheriff’s Office
• Pasco Sheriff’s Office
• San Francisco (CA) Sheriff’s Office
• Florida Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 16 of the suspects communicated online with undercover detectives they believed were children or guardians of children and were charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex. Three suspects sent nude photos to the undercover detectives, and three were charged with human trafficking after offering to pay to have sex with a child. Five suspects were from outside Polk County, seven are married, and three are military veterans.
In total, the 19 suspects face 85 felony charges and 8 misdemeanor charges.
Notable Arrest: Thomas Hicks
One of those arrested was 68-year-old Thomas Hicks (DOB 9/4/1957) of Lakeland, Florida. Hicks, well-known for playing Santa Claus at major Christmas events throughout Polk County each year, was taken into custody last week.
According to the affidavit, Hicks sent social media messages to an undercover detective posing as the guardian of a 13-year-old girl. He offered to pay $200 to have sex with the child and explicitly described the sexual acts he wanted to perform, while stating he would be gentle. Hicks reportedly told detectives he has been married for over 50 years but regularly visits “prostitution sites” looking for prostitutes or companions. He works in marketing for Tri-County Behavioral Health in Polk County.
Hicks was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with human trafficking (F1), traveling to meet a minor (F2), use of a computer to seduce a child (F3), and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3).
Sheriff Grady Judd commented on the operation, saying:
“It never ceases to amaze us how many suspects travel to have sex with who they believe are children, especially here in Polk County where we proactively investigate and arrest those who prey on children. Speaking of believing, we even arrested Santa Claus during this undercover operation”.
SOURCE: POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
