MundoThey arrested 13 Disney employees in an operation against pedophiles and sexual predatorsMDZ Mundo•04/11/2026 – 18:05hs

Thirteen Disney employees were arrested in Florida during a seven-day undercover operation targeting human trafficking and sexual predator crimes. The workers were involved in an investigation that ended with 281 arrests and 488 criminal charges in Polk County.

The most striking case was that of a former employee who had played the character of Mickey Mouse. According to the local sheriff, the 24-year-old man attended a meeting organized by detectives who had posed as the guardian of a 13-year-old boy. When they arrested him, he was carrying two backpacks with diapers, some of them identified with the Disney brand.

Disney fired the 13 detained employees

As police chief Judd explained, the company collaborated with the authorities and informed him that it had fired the 13 employees involved.

“These are people who were face to face with our children in different disciplines within these organizations,” the sheriff said, referring to theme park workers.

In the case of the former employee who had played Mickey Mouse, authorities identified him as Collin Klaco, 24, a resident of Clermont. According to the investigation, he was accused of attempting to meet a minor, using electronic means to contact his guardian for sexual purposes and attempted sexual abuse of a minor, among other charges.

The man was no longer working at Disney at the time of his arrest.

How was the operation that ended with 281 arrests?

The investigation was called “Polk Around and Find Out II” and was led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, with the participation of local, state and federal agencies. Two undercover procedures were developed simultaneously: one aimed at adults who were trying to have sexual encounters with minors and another focused on prostitution and human trafficking networks.

According to the balance released by the authorities, 239 arrests were related to crimes related to prostitution, 31 with suspicions of child sexual predation and another 11 with different infractions. In total, 488 new criminal charges were filed, of which 198 were classified as felonies.

Investigators also reported that 32 of those detained were in the United States in an irregular immigration situation. In addition, they identified 11 possible victims of human trafficking, who received offers of assistance and support from specialized organizations.

During the procedures, 24 firearms were seized and drug possession charges were registered against 32 suspects.