The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of 29 individuals following a three-day undercover operation targeting internet-based prostitution solicitation.
The operation, named Operation County Line, took place in Duval and Clay counties.
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Law enforcement officials reported that 24 men and five women face first-degree misdemeanor charges for using online platforms to solicit or offer commercial sex.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Vice Unit collaborated with the Intercept Task Force and the Clay County Sheriff's Office to execute the sting.
Officials stated the initiative aims to disrupt activities that contribute to wider illicit networks.
School Guardian Among Those Arrested
Among those taken into custody was 44-year-old Harvez Pierre, an employee working as a school guardian for KIPP public charter schools in Jacksonville.
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Police records indicate Pierre contacted an undercover detective through an online advertisement and was arrested on June 24 after arranging a meeting on Collins Road.
Separately, South Florida authorities reported the arrest of seven individuals in a concurrent human trafficking operation designed to protect minors from commercial sexual exploitation ahead of upcoming World Cup matches.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office stated that while prostitution remains classified as a misdemeanor offense, the practice directly fuels human trafficking and contributes to the spread of disease within local communities.
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Local residents with information regarding suspected prostitution or human trafficking are encouraged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office or the national 24/7 hotline.
