{"id":254894,"date":"2026-05-02T03:00:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T03:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/254894\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T03:00:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T03:00:30","slug":"tampa-maga-influencer-craig-long-arrested-in-grady-judds-prostitution-sting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/254894\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa MAGA influencer Craig Long arrested in Grady Judd\u2019s prostitution sting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Craig Long with President Trump and Don Jr. at a recent UFC event. Credit: Craig Long\/Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

This morning, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held a press conference highlighting the results of a local prostitution sting. The operation, which wielded 266 arrests, mostly involved adults seeking consensual sex with other adults, including prominent local MAGA influencer Craig Long.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Judd started the press conference thanking the multiple departments and individuals that assisted with the operation, and proceeded to run through a list of the more prominent arrests, like convicted Jan. 6 insurrectionist Ryan Yates<\/a>, who was pardoned by President Donald Trump, and Tampa-based LA Fitness owner and MAGA YouTube personality Craig Long.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThen there\u2019s Craig Long we arrested,\u201d said Judd. \u201cHe was seeking the services of a prostitute. Did I tell you that he\u2019s married, that he\u2019s got 125K followers on Instagram, 568K followers on TikTok? Well, I\u2019m going to give him some content for social media today.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to PCSO, on April 22, Long reached out online to an undercover detective, who was posing as a sex worker. The 41-year-old then arranged to meet with her in Bartow, where he offered her $100 for \u201csomething quick.\u201d <\/p>\n

Long was then arrested and charged with one count of soliciting a prostitute<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Grady Judd at Friday\u2019s press conference discussing the arrest of MAGA influencer Craig Long. Credit: Polk County Sheriff’s Office<\/a><\/p>\n

At his Friday press conference, Judd pointed out that Long has a previous criminal history, but has since \u201cstraightened up.\u201d He also stated that Long is known for supporting law enforcement, and \u201cmoves in big circles,\u201d while showing a recent picture of him alongside President Donald Trump and his son, Don Trump Jr.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe like the fact that he likes the cops,\u201d said Judd. \u201cHeck, he liked them so much he got caught up in a sting and got real close with the cops.\u201d<\/p>\n

Judd, a Republican, is very familiar with Long\u2019s media work. Back in 2024, Long interviewed Judd<\/a>, and defended ICE agents who shot and killed Renee Good in Minnesota.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe appreciates law enforcement,\u201d continued Judd. \u201cWell, there you go. Got arrested in the human trafficking sting. Influence that for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides Judd, Long is a well-known figure among Tampa Bay Republicans. In 2022, he interviewed then-candidate U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna<\/a>, of Florida\u2019s 13th congressional district, where she defended American killer Kyle Rittenhouse and also spread conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election. <\/p>\n

Long was also photographed at the Jan. 6 riots <\/a>in Washington D.C. with Largo\u2019s Cliff Gephart, the owner of the now-closed Trump-themed coffee shop Conservative Grounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n

This article appears in Apr. 30 \u2013 May 06, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

\t