Married Santa impersonator, 68, busted in Florida child predator sting
A 68-year-old married man who worked as a professional Santa Claus impersonator was arrested in Florida during an undercover child predator sting operation. Thomas Allen Hicks, who had portrayed Santa for decades and was a preacher and mental health employee, allegedly responded to an ad from an undercover detective posing as a parent offering a 13-year-old for sex. He is among 19 individuals arrested in the statewide operation, facing multiple felony charges related to attempted child sex trafficking and online solicitation.
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US News Married Santa impersonator, 68, busted in Florida child predator sting By Patrick Reilly Published April 30, 2026, 12:02 p.m. ET This Santa is on the very, very naughty list. A married Santa Claus impersonator who sat “thousands and thousands of children” on his lap over the years has been nabbed in an undercover child sex sting Thomas Allen Hicks, 68, a white-bearded professional Santa and preacher of 40 years, allegedly responded to an online ad posted by an undercover detective pretending to be a parent offering sex with their 13-year-old daughter, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
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