FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 17, 2026

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in coordination with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCS) led Operation Late Checkout in Indian River County.

From Sept. 10–13, the three-day, multiagency, undercover human trafficking operation focused on identifying human trafficking victims, reducing the demand for prostitution, and apprehending individuals seeking sexual contact with minors.

As a result of this operation, 50 individuals were arrested on prostitution and drug-related charges. Additionally, one individual was arrested for transmission of material harmful to a minor and traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual conduct. Additionally, three individuals were taken into custody and placed on an immigration detainer for violating federal immigration laws.

Operation Late Checkout included FDLE agents and analysts from the Fort Pierce Field Office, Orlando Regional Operations Center, the Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse, the Saint Lucie County Sheriff's Office, Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Altamonte Springs Police Department, Vero Beach Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Office of Statewide Prosecution, and the U. S. Attorney’s Office. 

The cases are being prosecuted by Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the State Attorney’s Office of the 19th Judicial Circuit, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

The investigations remain active and additional arrests may be forthcoming.

For Further Information Contact

FDLE Office of Public Information