Disney Employees Arrested In Sex Sting

Disney Employees Among 28 Arrested In Sex Sting
POSTED: 7:48 am EDT April 2, 2007

UPDATED: 11:30 pm EDT April 2, 2007

POLK COUNTY, Fla. -- An undercover sting operation in Polk County led to 28 arrests of people charged with soliciting sex from children online.

SLIDESHOW: Mug Shots Of All Arrested Suspects
Of those arrested, three men told authorities they were Disney employees, according to a sheriff's office report.
Sheriff's office spokeswoman Donna Wood said a number of agencies worked together to set up the sting at a Polk County home. The detectives set up a shop in a rented house and they filled the upstairs with computers and phones.


The detectives then acted as 13- and 14-year-old girls, entering fictitious names and profiles in chat rooms and chatted with the suspects. The reactions varied from the men who showed up to find law enforcement there waiting for them.

"Using undercover officers, the suspects chatted online with people whom they believed to be boys and girls, ages 13 and 14," Wood said.

When the suspects stopped in over the weekend, they were arrested. Three men arrested in the sting told authorities they were Disney employees: Julio Segundo, 21, of Orlando; Richard Gaugh, 55, of Ormond Beach; and Thierry Ferron, 43, of Winter Garden. All three were charged with soliciting a minor via the internet and attempted lewd battery.

"We take matters like this very seriously," Disney said in a statement released Monday. "The cast members have been placed on unpaid leave."

According to Disney, none of the three employees arrested worked directly with children. The company said all cast members must pass background checks when they're hired.
Segundo and Gaugh remained in jail awaiting bail on Monday. Ferry posted bond and was released Sunday. It was not immediately known if the men had attorneys.

The Polk County sheriff had a stern warning for parents.

"This is a guy who's going to come into your home while you are gone, and your kids are here on spring break, and have sex with your 13-year-old child," said Sheriff Grady Judd.

2007 by WFTV.com.