Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd provided a detailed account of the findings from “Operation May’s Monsters,” an investigation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Computer Crimes Unit.
The primary objective of the month-long investigation was to identify individuals involved in the possession and distribution of child pornography.
As a result of the investigation, eight men, including a Disney employee named Paul Viel, were arrested. Sheriff Judd expressed the disturbing nature of the evidence discovered, describing the videos and photographs as some of the most horrific encountered by his detectives. The material depicted children being coerced into exposing their genitalia and subjected to rape.
Sheriff Judd emphasized the severe impact of sharing and distributing child pornography, as it perpetuates the exploitation of children. He urged parents to remain vigilant and actively monitor their children’s activities on gaming stations, cell phones, and other electronic devices.
“These videos and photographs are some of the most horrific my detectives have ever seen – images of children being forced to expose their genitalia and raped. Each time one of these monsters uploads and shares child pornography, they are feeding the child exploitation pipeline and they are victimizing children over and over again. Parents, this is another stark reminder of why it is important to get all in your child’s business when it comes to their gaming stations, cell phones, and other electronic devices,” Judd said.
Watch (WARNING: Graphic language):
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office listed the details of Paul Viel’s arrest:
40-year-old Paul Viel of Davenport was arrested and charged with 999 counts of *enhanced possession of child pornography (F2) after an on-scene preview of his devices and forensic examination of his devices that were seized. Detectives found images and videos of children as young as newborns being sexually battered. Viel works for Walt Disney World at the Cosmic Rays Restaurant. He is being held in the Polk County Jail on a $2,700,000 bond ($5,000 per charge).
You can view the full press conference for “Operation May’s Monsters” below:
