The Sad “Operation March Sadness”
It’s only half-way through the month of March, but Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, who is now infamous for his name and shame press conferences touting the “success” of sex stings, has already netted more than 100 people in his latest operation which he named “Operation March Sadness”.
The operation was promoted to the media as a “six-day human trafficking sting” but it’s unclear from the press conference whether any human trafficking victims were rescued as a result. By the numbers, there were a couple dozen people arrested for “Offering to Commit Prostitution”, Roughly 80 people arrested for “Seeking a Prostitute”, 4 that appear on the poster as “child sex predators” and one woman under the heading of “Charged with Human Trafficking”
Let’s start with an analysis of whether this can really be considered a successful “human trafficking operation”. When less than 1% of the targets are actually arrested for human trafficking and more than 96% arrested for prostitution-related offenses, it’s not really a successful human trafficking sting, is it?
Next, the couple dozen people charged with “offering to commit prostitution”… aren’t they technically the victims here? Why were they arrested and why are they on the poster? As far as the majority of the busts… the 80 people arrested for “seeking a prostitute” are technically committing a misdemeanor. Again… not what you consider when thinking of a human trafficker and actually not a human trafficker at all.
I’m going to divert from my thoughts on the sting operation for a minute to make a point about “seeking a prostitute”. Remember three years ago the Florida legislature enacted Florida Statute 943.0433, the “Soliciting for Prostitution Public Database”? Well if a 6-day operation netted 80 people, I was curious to see how many thousands of people were added to the public database in three years, so I checked. 28. Yes twenty-eight. Not 28,000. Just 28. Odd.
Anyhow, so getting back to the Polk County sting. The four men listed as “child sex predators” are not listed on the FDLE registry as sexual predators or sexual offenders. In order to be classified as a “predator”, the person must meet specific criteria set forth in Florida Statute 775.21. Not sure why the Sheriff promoted them on his poster as such.
As far as the one “human trafficker”, according to one news report, “[a]ccording to the sheriff’s office, 32-year-old XXXXXX XXXXXX was arrested for trafficking another woman. Deputies say they learned Nash repeatedly threatened violence against the woman, who is an adult if she didn’t prostitute herself.” If true, horrible, not exactly the “human trafficking” one envisions, but still horrible. But what if the trafficking victim told police that just to avoid getting arrested? “Officer, she made me do it” By no means saying that’s what happened, but definitely suggesting the truth come out in court before we go out there with press conferences and scary headlines.
A lot of the best content on this site is FAC original content.
Thank you Contributor 3!
Not sticking up at all for child sex predators, however, there are several criteria to meet that standard of designation.
#1 You have to be convicted, not just arrested to get that designation.
#2 Generally a specialist either for the defense, the prosecution or both testifies after testing that, that person qualifies for that label.
#3 A judge ultimately gets most of the credit for deciding if you will be forever called a sex offender or a sexual predator.
There are other factors, but these are the main standards that determine the designation. Also, a thought. Regardless if someone is listed as a child sexual predator, just a predator, or a sex offender, we kind of all get thrown into the same basket by our neighbors, the public, the news and law enforcement.
CherokeeJack, You are right about #1, you need to be convicted, however as to #2 and #3, I think you are incorrect. In Florida, the offenses that require registration as a predator are defined in Statute (see below). You might be thinking about civil commitment, which is completely different. There are people designated predators strictly because their offense happened to fall under the statute, but there was nothing predatory about it and no specialist’s risk assessment would find them to be a predator.
(a. A capital, life, or first degree felony violation, or any attempt thereof, of s. 787.01 or s. 787.02, where the victim is a minor, or s. 794.011, s. 800.04, or s. 847.0145, or a violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction; or
b. Any felony violation, or any attempt thereof, of s. 393.135(2); s. 394.4593(2); s. 787.01, s. 787.02, or s. 787.025(2)(c), where the victim is a minor; s. 787.06(3)(b), (d), (f), or (g); former s. 787.06(3)(h); s. 794.011, excluding s. 794.011(10); s. 794.05; former s. 796.03; former s. 796.035; s. 800.04; s. 810.145(8)(b); s. 825.1025; s. 827.071; s. 847.0135, excluding s. 847.0135(6); s. 847.0145; s. 895.03, if the court makes a written finding that the racketeering activity involved at least one sexual offense listed in this sub-subparagraph or at least one offense listed in this sub-subparagraph with sexual intent or motive; s. 916.1075(2); or s. 985.701(1); or a violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction, and the offender has previously been convicted of or found to have committed, or has pled nolo contendere or guilty to, regardless of adjudication, any violation of s. 393.135(2); s. 394.4593(2); s. 787.01, s. 787.02, or s. 787.025(2)(c), where the victim is a minor; s. 787.06(3)(b), (d), (f), or (g); former s. 787.06(3)(h); s. 794.011, excluding s. 794.011(10); s. 794.05; former s. 796.03; former s. 796.035; s. 800.04; s. 825.1025; s. 827.071; s. 847.0133; s. 847.0135, excluding s. 847.0135(6); s. 847.0145; s. 895.03, if the court makes a written finding that the racketeering activity involved at least one sexual offense listed in this sub-subparagraph or at least one offense listed in this sub-subparagraph with sexual intent or motive; s. 916.1075(2); or s. 985.701(1); or a violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction;)
Things change so much even the judges, prosecutors and lawyers are sometimes left in the dark. No wonder it is so hard to become a lawyer.
Thanks, that was A LOT of statues LOL I got dizzy just looking at them. I always wondered how they could have ENTIRE law libraries. Now I know, good lord.
More propaganda from Judd? Gee golly… How surprising!
Side note. It IS election year is it not?
I found it interesting that of the four arrested for allegedly soliciting minors, two of them didn’t even meet their “victims”, they have warrants for enticing, but they didn’t do anything but have a conversation online. Make it make sense? And as a side note, Grady is nothing more than an attention whore….oh the irony.
The truth does not come out in court when police and prosecutors are running a scam to help themselves (their own careers, make more money, feed their own egos, etc. ) Their focusing more on prostitution stings now, I guess since we’ve been exposing their dirty secrets about how they were entrapping men on adult hook up platforms to falsely label them as child predators, because it was a scam that was bringing them in a lot of money. I guess we ruined that for them.
Now we have to uncover their dirty secrets for these new stings and they expose them like we’ve been doing with their other “child predator stings”.
Basically, what they’re doing is just the work of cowards. There’s nothing heroic about what they’re doing with these online sting operations. It’s just an excuse for them to get to play out their own fantasies, using men on adult hook up platforms, while they get paid for it. That doesn’t make them heroes. That makes them cowards.
Here is a good article that explains why they call this sex trafficking when it’s not.
GROUP THAT OPPOSES SEX WORK GAVE MONEY TO PROSECUTORS’ OFFICES — AND GOT STINGS AGAINST JOHNS IN RETURN
https://theintercept.com/2018/03/24/demand-abolition-sex-work-nonprofit-prosecutors-king-county/
Here is a quote from that article:
In her email explaining why she wanted to use the term sex trafficking, the consultant, Sydney Asbury, wrote, “Removing all references to sex trafficking will hurt our ability to grab reporters’ attention.”
So when are folks “sex workers” who are misunderstood and abused and when are they “human trafficking victims” who require rescuing? Still a bit confused about that. But I do know one thing. A 40 year old overweight shaved head male rood head Polk County deputy posing as someone else online qualifies as NEITHER.
One thing about these stings that bothers me (besides mostly everything) is that if offering prostitution is a crime and being sex trafficked is not could make shrewd sex workers falsely claim victim status to avoid charges. This would only serve to help the sheriff office by making them look like they are saving more victims, thus further fueling the LE machine. Perhaps this is already happening in some places.
It’s ICROCK recession time protocol, which has them begging for money from the government. To do so, ICAC overinflates the appearance of charges to Congress. Congress awards the grants when they see child solicitation risen over 1000%. This is what happened to us in Florida circa 2007. The only way to affect change in law enforcement is by blowing out their finances: what they’re doing with them, and the efficacy of that. Performance reports show they’re lax dealing with child trafficking, complaints taking 2 or 3 weeks to even be addressed.
Economy is the only system government and American corporations respect; law enforcement is a corporation with governmental authority, but they’re not part of the government like military. They’re on their own for funding, especially in the south where no unions exist. The dope game is the main source of income law enforcement relies on outside unions–basically we wouldn’t be able to afford modern law enforcement without the drug game. Once in a while these sex gigs are easy, safe grant wins. Outside of constantly having to justify performance on paper for grants, I don’t believe they get much from the main government sources like taxes.
Entrapped
As a former law enforcement officer myself, I do not agree with militarizing the police. The Government issued many departments tank like vehicles and other war time operations equipment that has no business on the streets. If it is that bad, then you call in the National guard.
Plowing down people’s walls of their house just because they bought or sold some drugs is insane. AND to be clear, I am not sticking up for any crime, especially what I was accused of (by the police, not by any victim).
Way back when I worked in law enforcement, I saw even then, what was happening with the power hungry, out of control freaks. A major reason why I left. The night sticks we were issued were so often abused and were removed from almost all departments after the Rodney King incident. By the way, they were officially called PR-24 Batons.
Agreed Cherokee. Although I’ve heard at least one police chief refer to his department as a para-military force, they are not. They are a police force. History shows that the decline into totalitarianism occurs in step with the militarization of the police and the “policization” of the military.
Simply put – Supervision of what and where the money is being used for. Also, keeping egoism out etc. However, this needs to be done throughout government, courts, etc. Innocent people are having their lives ruined because a judge may not get elected again. We the people need to follow the constitution. Oh, but how can that be done when Florida makes up their own laws.
Entrapment
Even if they win in court, they lose. Attorneys are not free and most public defenders if you use one, are so overworked, many of them encourage their clients to take a plea even if they say they are innocent.
No – you can not win because courts etc. are corrupt, and the court’s soldiers follow the money trail.
FAC has filed challenges in multiple courts, none of which are corrupt in any way.
When it comes to stings – Gennette’s case??? However, the appellate court reversed and corrected it. Stings bring in lots of money not to mention that they keep the system running.
“…Not sure why the Sheriff promoted them on his poster as such.”
Because Grady Judd is like a real-life Barney Fife!
JJJJJJ
….So Today, Someone, With whom I work, A Lady in Her Late 50’s, Saw The Elmer Fudd News Report and HIs ‘Yet to be Famous Posters’ that He Prints and Puts into the Background….
and Then She Says to me, ‘These Creeps work at Disney…Now, I do not want to go to Disney with my Grandchildren this summer”…I Laughed Out Loud, So Loud, Everyone Looked at Me…..I took her aside.,,still laughing with a Big Smile on My Face and Explained to Her About The WHOLE SHEBANG!
..I am not, still, so sure, that She Believes in the Truths, Facts, Etc that I Spoke About; However, She Did, Give Me Hug As I was Leaving This Evening and Thanked Me For Explaining Tings to Her!
It Took A lot of Balls for Me To Stand Up and let Her Know About ME!
-I DID IT!
Truth
Although I am strong Christian, sadly I trust no one. I have been burned too many times. I am so untrusting that when I look in the mirror, I point at myself and say “I am watching you mister” lol
I guess that kind of goes with the old saying “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. I have had so many jobs I was at for years, and as soon as someone mentioned my registry Glamor shots photo and details, I would get fired. Even though the boss already knew, the publicity was not a welcomed event.
Congratulations on standing up. It is so hard, and so vital!
For a change this article is good about this “March Madness” ordeal in this sex offender issue. Even many of the comments are good but when facts turn to fiction where does one turn to. How can people be labeled a sex offender when some didn’t even offend another in this March sadness operation. isn’t this whole operation a bit one sided. Isn’t more of this a harlot prostitution operation via this thing called internet rather than real physical ordeals. There’s where your madness comes in.
Did you all know that the heart is evil above all things, who can know it. Are authorities leading one into temptation with many and much of these encounters. Was reading Cherokee’s comment and many more on here and it seems that this March madness or sadness is a call to the real justice behind the branding that one goes thru in this registry ordeal that is a vain as someone taking the glory for this temptation in many issues or forms the registry can produce. Don’t get me wrong or anyone else protection is good if it protects. Can one prevent a drunk driver?
Sure LE or judges seems to grade people up in to categories such as Tiers they label them some violent, some mild, and some being mislead by guess who Authorities. Does one wonder if we are all born into trouble or do authorities make that trouble more of a devilish operation.
Hey is this operation March sadness a call to act to eliminate much of this registry as a lot of the foundation is a bit one size fits all.
Florida – they like to twist the words and thoughts of others to their evil heart advantage. Then they crucify you without listening…
It makes you wonder what dark demons Sheriff Grady Judd struggles with that fuels his furious need to obsessivley and publicly codemn others.
I also blame the press for giving this back woods, low class, crap for brains redneck the attention he so desparelty craves.
An important phenomonon that the gay rights movement taught us: many of those lawmakers who were shouting the loudest and voted every time to deny gay people equal rights under the law? Turns out they were closet self-loathing homosexuals themselves.
Please someone hire a private detective and find out what Sheriff DeGrady Fudd is doing when nobody is looking.
“rpsabq”: I completely agree with you. He certainly strikes me as someone who has a lot to hide. I’ve also heard that there are inhumane practices that go on in his jail, under his watch. He’s certainly not doing what he is doing to protect or help anybody. It’s pretty clear this is mostly about himself.
Florida should look into who is funding these sting operations. There is an organization (Demand Abolition) that funds some prosecutors’ offices to prosecute prostitution crimes, and as part of their funding, they demand convictions. I bet this sting operation itself (in Florida) can be traced back to MONEY. It’s always all about MONEY. And of course, many of these officers also like to use this cowardly work as an excuse to play out their own fantasies online (in these stings) and get paid for it too. We know there have been many stories about police sexually abusing prostitutes (and even other female police officers) during these so called “heroic” stings where they are supposedly protecting trafficked victims. There’s currently a lawsuit going on in Houston, TX for this. Turns out the “heroes” were the dangerous sexual predators themselves. What a shocker, huh? Like nobody would have expected that.
As for the 4 men who had their name and picture plastered so everyone could call them child sex predators, I would make sure I have a copy of the news…then sue them and Sheriff Judd’s butt off for defamation, slander, and whatever else is pertinent.
TO: mbgodofwar
Something else I thought about this morning. As a former law enforcement officer, I am pretty sure, even once we get free of the registry, we will still have a felony. (most of us anyway)
As far as I know, there are still traps for us even if we get successfully removed. For example, in many place, felons of any kind are not allowed on school or college campuses. And license plate readers will still show us as having a criminal past so could still lead to harassment.
Having said that, I can deal with law enforcement on a case by case basis. However, having to deal with hateful neighbors who see us on the registry is living Hell on Earth. So just having that removed out of the picture would free a lot of our emotional stress.
A group of us should attend one of his live broadcast filmed meetings and ask him questions that I’m sure he would not want to answer.
Like: How much money does your department get from the federal government to conduct these stings?
**Do you believe the Florida sex offender registry should be reformed or not?
** does everyone in your family agree with your approach to law enforcement?
** how much money do you guys spend annually to go out of your way to try to find sex offender?
** do you believe believes that sex offender should be on the list for life?
I don’t think there’s anything stopping us from going and sitting in on one of his meetings and embarrassing him in front of everyone filming .
Would be great !!!
I wish I was in Florida to do this. I would love to ask him some questions.
I want to know if he thinks it’s ok to suggest to men that they should have sex with a minor instead of an adult and to continue pushing that on men.
I want to know if he thinks it should be illegal for anybody to go around (online) suggesting to men that they should have sex with a minor instead of with an adult. Should it be a higher charge if these individuals continue to push the idea of sex with a minor on the men?
I think it needs to be made illegal for anybody to suggest sex with a minor to men on adult hookup platforms who are clearly looking for consenting adults, in appropriate places for this, clearly not looking for minors. Nobody goes to these places to find minors. It should be illegal for anybody to force thoughts about sex with minors on others, for no real reason other than it feeds their own addiction to this, and they use it to make themselves look like the heroes they are not. They are promoting and encouraging the sexual abuse of children to feed their own interests. That’s the truth about this that many people are not aware of.
In 2015 Florida received $1,177,927 for these fake child predator cases. In 2016 it was $1.205,851. In 2017 it was $1,172,486. In 2018 they got $2,275,233. And in 2019 they got $1,555,249.
This all came from the ICAC federal grant program. Who knows how much more they got on top of that from private donors who have been fooled into believing these sting operations are helping keep their children safe online from predators, not realizing that if anything, these sting operations are more than likely INCREASING the real risk of children online because they are being conducted in all the wrong places where no one would ever expect to find minors, instead of conducting them on the regular social media platforms that real minors use, which is exactly where real minors are targeted and found for this kind of exploitation. Does anybody really believe that those who target minors online for this really don’t know that these bogus sting operations are helping keep them protected by keeping the focus on all the wrong individuals? There is absolutely no logical reason for why anybody should think that predators are targeting minors on adult hookup platforms. A real minor is not likely to identify themselves as a minor in one of those places. That is a very ridiculous and pathetic claim these fake heroes have made to justify their no sense actions in looking for individuals who are supposedly seeking minors to prey on (on adult content platforms).
I would really like to see the stats on non-sex crime in that county. Seems to me that Sheriff Elmer Fudd dedicates so many resources to harassing and creating more registrants that most other crime is virtually ignored.
Seems to me like this sheriff is very obsessed with the idea of pedophilia. That’s why he spends so much time on helping create fake fake child predator cases and helping cover up the real truth about how they target men on adult hook up platforms to create these fake cases.
There is nothing shocking about any of the conversations from these cases, once people know and understand that these are very typical conversations people use these adult content platforms for. There is no reason why anybody would expect to find a minor in these places, much less a minor who is seeking random adult male strangers to engage in sexual conversations, invite to meet for a hookup, etc.
To claim to be a minor on an adult hookup platform, while seeking men to engage in sexual conversations, is the fantasy of some adults (pretending to be a young teen throwing themselves at men for sex). It’s not the behavior of real minors to do this, and then tell those random adult strangers that they are a minor. 🙄 Yeah, right! 😂Why is that so hard for so many people to believe or understand? Those supporting these sting operations are obviously the ones in strong denial about this.