Prostitution sting results in 103 arrests

Undercover detectives have arrested 103 people in an alleged prostitution and human trafficking operation in Polk County that may involve minors, the sheriff ’s office reported Monday.

The arrests took place during a six-day investigation that focused on sex trafficking, the sheriff’s office said. Among those arrested was Dr. Sarat Sabharwal, 54, identified by the sheriff ’s office as a urologist for the Orlando VA Medical Center and an on-call trauma surgeon.

A spokeswoman for the VA could not immediately confirm that Sabharwal practices at the facility. He was charged with soliciting a prostitute.

The operation began Nov. 27 and focused on online advertisements — both by alleged prostitutes and men allegedly seeking prostitutes. Charges include human trafficking, soliciting another for prostitution, offering to commit prostitution, deriving support from proceeds of prostitution, transporting to a building for prostitution and using a communication device to commit a felony.

Three of the people arrested for prostitution are possible victims of human trafficking, and one of them is believed to be a minor, a sheriff’s public information officer said.

In all, 56 people were arrested on charges of advertising prostitution online, and 30 people were arrested for allegedly soliciting undercover detectives who posted ads posing as prostitutes, the sheriff’s office said. Eleven others were charged with deriving proceeds from prostitution, and six were taken into custody for drug charges and other offenses.

Authorities are still searching for 49-year-old William Welch, who allegedly drove to Polk County believing he was going to have sex with a 14-year-old girl. Welch is facing several charges, including traveling to meet a minor, using a computer to solicit a child and attempted lewd battery.

“We conduct these kinds of investigations because of the link between prostitution, human trafficking, drug crimes, economic crimes — such as burglary and fraud — and violent crime,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “Prostitution is not a victimless crime. From the spread of disease, destruction of families, and to the scourge of human trafficking, prostitution is bad for our community.”

Detectives worked closely with One More Child and the Florida Department of Children and Families during the operation, the sheriff’s office said.