The sheriff of Polk County, Florida, on Friday relentlessly mocked a well-liked pro-police MAGA influencer who was taken into custody final month and accused of soliciting prostitution on-line.
“We like the truth that he likes the cops. Heck, he preferred them a lot he received caught up in a sting and received to be up and actual shut with the cops,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd quipped at a Friday press convention.
Craig Lengthy, 41, was charged with soliciting one other to commit a lewd act after authorities accused him of answering an escort advert on-line arrange by an undercover detective, in keeping with an affidavit reviewed by JHB.
Deputies mentioned within the affidavit that Lengthy had organized to pay $100 for “one thing fast.”
In accordance with the doc, when Lengthy arrived on the sting location on April 21 and entered the room to satisfy the undercover detective, he “specified” he wished them to start out with oral intercourse. He was then taken into custody.
A lawyer representing Lengthy didn’t instantly reply to JHB when reached by e-mail for touch upon the accusations. Courtroom information reveal that Lengthy has entered a not-guilty plea.
His arrest was one in all 266 that resulted from “a multi-day-long joint-agency undercover human trafficking and youngster predator operation” the sheriff’s division referred to as “Polk Round and Discover Out.”
Judd advised reporters that Lengthy is married and has an enormous on-line following as a well-liked MAGA content material creator, including that “he strikes in huge circles, even with the president.”
The sheriff then confirmed the viewers {a photograph} of the influencer with President Donald Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr.
“We requested what his angle was. They mentioned, “Oh, he had an ideal angle. He appreciates regulation enforcement,” Judd mentioned. “Nicely, there you go. Obtained arrested within the human trafficking scheme. Affect that for some time.”