BELOVED Santa Claus BUSTED–CHILLING Double Life

A 68-year-old man who spent nearly a decade playing Santa Claus at Florida community events — beloved by families and photographed with the local sheriff — was just arrested for allegedly trying to pay $200 to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Story Snapshot

Thomas Allen Hicks, Lakeland’s well-known “community Santa,” was arrested in Operation Child Protector VIII, a multi-agency undercover sting run by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Hicks allegedly contacted an undercover detective posing as the father of a 13-year-old girl on a known prostitution website, offered $200, and showed up to meet the child.
Sheriff Grady Judd — who had recently posed for a photo with Hicks at a community event — called the case “scary” and said Hicks showed zero remorse, concerned only about his Santa reputation.
Hicks faces four felony charges including human trafficking; the sting netted 19 total arrests across Polk County.

A Trusted Face Behind a Disturbing Alleged Crime

Thomas Allen Hicks first donned the red suit in 2017 for the Lakeland Christmas Parade after attending Santa school the year before. Over nearly nine years, he expanded his appearances to include the Kissimmee Festival of Lights Parade and Zoo Tampa. His wife Cindy joined him as Mrs. Claus. By 2024, a local news feature had spotlighted the couple as cherished community figures — the kind of profile that makes an arrest like this hit particularly hard for the families who trusted him with their children.

Hicks worked in marketing for Tri-County Behavioral Health in Polk County, a role that further cemented his image as a responsible, community-minded professional. He had no prior criminal history. When Sheriff Grady Judd announced the arrest at an April 29 press conference, he disclosed that he himself had recently posed for a photo with Hicks at a community event. “It’s scary because this guy was well-respected in the community,” Judd said — a statement that underscored just how effectively Hicks allegedly concealed his behavior behind a trusted public persona.

How the Sting Unfolded

Operation Child Protector VIII was a proactive, week-long, multi-agency undercover investigation launched by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to identify individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. A Marion County detective created an undercover profile on a known prostitution website, posing as the father of a 13-year-old girl. Hicks allegedly responded, initiating contact and continuing communications even after the detective explicitly confirmed the child’s age multiple times — a detail that authorities say demonstrates knowing, deliberate intent.

Hicks allegedly described specific sexual acts he wanted to perform and offered $200 for access to the child. He then arranged an in-person meeting at a Lakeland location, where he was taken into custody upon arrival. Deputies recovered cash at the scene that investigators allege was connected to the arranged meeting. Sheriff Judd reported that upon arrest, Hicks showed “zero remorse” and expressed concern only about damage to his reputation as Santa Claus.

Four Felony Charges and 19 Total Arrests

Hicks now faces four felony charges: human trafficking, a first-degree felony; traveling to meet a minor, a second-degree felony; use of a computer to seduce a child, a third-degree felony; and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, also a third-degree felony. An affidavit has been filed with the Polk County Clerk. As with all criminal cases, these charges represent accusations that must be proven in a court of law.

The broader operation resulted in 19 total arrests. Sixteen suspects were charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, while three — including Hicks — face human trafficking-related charges. Operation Child Protector VIII represents the eighth iteration of this type of sting by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, reflecting a sustained, systematic strategy for identifying online predators. The operation’s success raises an uncomfortable but necessary question for communities everywhere: when someone’s public image is built entirely on the trust of families and children, who is actually checking what happens behind the scenes? Background checks wouldn’t have flagged Hicks. Only active, proactive law enforcement did.