'Evil, Deviant Criminals': Disney Employees, Judge Among the 108 Arrested in Sex Trafficking Sting

Tré Goins-Phillips : Mar 18, 2022
Faithwire.com

“What amazes me is we could do another operation starting next week and fill this board up again. And be sure of one thing: These chiefs and I will do just that. We'll be back and if you violate the law, we're going to take you to jail. That's a guarantee." -Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd

[Faithwire.com] Four Disney employees—along with a retired judge—were among the more than 100 people arrested in a recent sex trafficking sting, according to Florida police. (Image: via Faithwire)

"We protected some little girl someplace that was groomed or potentially groomed by these evil, deviant criminals—thugs, that's all they are," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said of the four suspects, according to CBS News. "They're dangerous people."

One of the suspected criminals, 27-year-old Xavier Jackson, worked as a lifeguard at Walt Disney World's Polynesian Village Resort in Lake Buena Vista. The sheriff said Jackson sent inappropriate messages and photos of himself to an undercover detective he believed was a 14-year-old girl.

The ex-lifeguard has been charged with three counts of transmitting harmful material to a minor and one count of unlawful communication.

Judd identified the other three Disney staffers as 24-year-old Wilkason Fidele, who worked at the Cosmic Restaurant in Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland for four years; 27-year-old Shubham Malave, who is on a visa citizenship from India and worked for Disney as a software developer; and 45-year-old Ralph Leese, who worked in Disney IT for four years. They were each attempting to solicit prostitutes.

Leese, Judd said, is married.

"So I'm sure Disney's not pleased," he added. "I bet his wife's not pleased, but we're pleased that we arrested him."

The Walt Disney Company confirmed in a statement to CBS News that Leese, Fidele, and Jackson have been placed on unpaid leave following news of their respective arrests. Malave, the company noted, is not employed by Disney.

Investigators also arrested a former Florida judge, 66-year-old Daniel Peters, along with a man who worked at an Orlando-based amusement park called The Fun Spot. Both men, police said, were seeking prostitutes.

Judd said the judge has sought an attorney.

"Well judge, you need an attorney," he said. "You got problems"... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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