The operation was a partnership with the Bell County Organized Crime Unit, Fort Hood Military Police and Fort Hood Criminal Investigations Divisions. Read the crime and public safety news your neighbors are talking about. So we'll go at it from that aspect first. (Alvarado later told Baker hed checked the bull for markings and brands and there were none. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Who wants to show up for jury duty, which a lot of people dont really want to do anyway, and get a free trip to the jail house? Simonsen asked. Each of the people arrested was charged with Soliciting a Prostitute, which in Texas is a state felony. Youth pastor, coach among 46 arrested in Texas sex trafficking sting, 90-year-old woman among 100 rescued from S.A. apartment fire, Hazy mornings coming to San Antonio on Friday, NWS says, Texas chain with San Antonio bakeries files for bankruptcy, How a viral chicken fried steak briefly closed down Mr. Juicy, Puerto Rican restaurant finds new life in former Rosario's spot, Report: San Antonio Rep. Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, Massive pirate-themed San Antonio park delays opening date, 'Spreading the love': Buc-ee's begins plans for world domination, TX DPS duped into shipping at least 3,000 Texas drivers license, Spoon, Billy Currington, and more set for New Braunfels shows, 6 Cabo hotels for your spring break vacation, HOKA dropped a brand new version of their most popular shoe. The Sheriffs Department is also concerned with the potential connection between prostitution and human trafficking. And an operations director of a large hospital network. Authorities in Texas have arrested at least 30 people intending to buy sex and rescued a child over three days as part of an undercover human trafficking investigation "I'm very happy to see those soliciting being prosecuted because if there's no demand there's no supply," said Chelsea Robertson. The men allegedly arranged online to meet at the hotels where they intended to pay for sex, authorities said. TheDallas Police Department (DPD) said its Special Investigation Division ran an operation targeting online sex trafficking in the city of Dallas and Collin County. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. They can be subjected to physical and sexual assault, robbery and even murder.. North Texas Porch Thieves Becoming Bolder, Fort Worth Reviews Violent Crime Response Initiative, At Least 36 Dead After Trains Collide Head-on in Greece: Indescribable Tragedy', LIVE RADAR: Severe T-Storm Watch Until Noon, Powerful Storms Forecast for Thursday, The Pandemic Altered Many Things, Including Alcohol AbuseThese Are the Warning Signs. Can I still get Beyonc tickets? Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. Anyone who is or who knows a potential victim in this, or any other case of sex trafficking or human trafficking or has any information regarding this or any other investigation can contact Homeland Security Investigations Toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423. Inherently, minor sting operations involve the TABC going undercover to identify establishments that sell alcoholic Jana Kilcrease. However, Perez said, "In reality, it's not. / CBS Texas. So Baker, a 39-year law enforcement veteran, started scouring livestock sale logs and called up Loving County Sheriff Chris Busse to make sure Jones and the ranch hands hadnt reported any stray cattle to him, according to the warrants. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Skeet Jones mentioned that he and his ranch hands catch stray cattle and sell them and donate the money to boys ranches in Texas. The operation wrapped up Friday with the rescue of 28 children and the arrest of 59 people who are now facing at least 80 criminal charges. Sarah Bahari, Staff writer. In addition to the trafficking task force, agencies that took part in this months operation included the Arlington, Colleyville, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, Irving and Midlothian police departments; the Collin, Dallas and Tarrant county sheriffs departments; and the Dallas County district attorneys office. Over the course of the operation, which took place across Feb. 22 and 23, female deputies posed as prostitutes in digital ads on websites reportedly known for promoting prostitution, said the Sheriff's Department. I applaud the dedication of these task force groups, including members of the Dallas Police Department, to bring these suspects to justice. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, co-wrote legislation with Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar to reauthorize the Abolish Human Trafficking Act, which provides tens of millions of dollars to law enforcement and social-service agencies to combat sexual exploitation. Fuchs said the investigation is ongoing and could result in more charges. Jones, the scion of a prominent ranching family and the top elected official in this sparsely populated West Texas county for the past 15 years, is charged with three felony counts of livestock theft and one count of engaging in organized crime potentially facing decades in prison if convicted. DALLAS Forty-six people have been arrested in connection with a commercial sex sting across North Texas, including a volunteer firefighter, youth pastor, During this weeks operation, one of the defendants negotiated a price but arrived with no money. Be Proactive. Prostitution sting operation in Frisco results in the arrest of 46 men over 2 days. BELL COUNTY, Texas - 10 people ranging in age from 23 to 77 from all over Central Texas were arrested following a prostitution sting in Bell County. The men face charges of solicitation of prostitution, a felony in Texas punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine, When you think of trafficking, you think of streets in Dallas or Fort Worth or strip clubs, said Agent John Perez, who oversees the North Texas Trafficking Task Force, part of Homeland Security Investigations. WebThe suicide of Bill Conradt was the November 2006 death of a local assistant district attorney in the DallasFort Worth metroplex after Texas police served him with search Scott Wooden was arrested on Feb. 11 during a prostitution sting operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriffs Department. Use the 'Report' link on Roughly a dozen law enforcement agencies participated in the 2-day operation on Jan. 12 and 13 at the Hilton at Southlake Town Square and the Hyatt Regency near Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, Texas. Many prostitutes are themselves victims of human trafficking, Cruz said. On Feb. 22-23, digital ads were placed on known websites promoting prostitution. An additional four individuals were arrested on the second day of the operation, the news release stated. The game warden said he had a confidential informant whod shared text messages from Jones, including one with a picture of a $2,720 check cut three days earlier at a livestock auction in Elk City, Oklahoma, for two steers and a black cow, according to the warrants. Baker, who declined to be interviewed, arrived to find Jones and his ranch hands loading the dead cattle onto a trailer to take them back to the P&M Jones Family Ranch. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Read Across America Week at Hay Branch Elementary, Local sorority to host youth symposium in Killeen, Increasing Chance for Severe Storms Thursday | Central Texas Forecast, 3 skyscraper-sized asteroids making approach to Earth this week, Twelve arrested in Waco prostitution sting, Waco Police believe sexual assault suspect has other victims. (Tarrant County Sheriff's Office). The people charged as a result of this operation preyed on some of our most vulnerable, our children. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) In January 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) conducted multiple Adult Prostitution Operations and Online Solicitation of Minor Operations throughout the West Texas Region. Galveston police along with Texas DPS, Galveston County Sheriff's Office, and Homeland Security made 14 arrests with 16 total charges after conducting an operation to target online solicitation of minors and solicitation of prostitution. Those arrested also included a volunteer firefighter, a semi-professional hockey player, and the director of operations for a large hospital network in Texas. These were among the 46 men arrested in a massive undercover prostitution sting this month in Frisco and Southlake, local and federal authorities announced. BELTON, Texas (FOX 44) A prostitution sting in Bell County has resulted in ten arrests. It's not immediately clear which of the suspects listed below have obtained attorneys. Loving County, the least-populated county in the continental U.S., had 57 residents as of the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimate. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Chief Deputy TJ Cruz explained that operations like these are meant to protect public safety and prevent human trafficking. Williams arrived with Jones, who asked to talk to Baker. FRISCO, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) Federal authorities announced a major crackdown on prostitution that reveals sex trafficking in North Texas remains an ongoing problem. In an interview with NBC News, Busse reiterated the denial, saying it was 100 percent false. Investigators also seized terabytes of data and electronic devices that were being used during the commission of these crimes. Those who traffic victims are the scourge of the earth, and we will continue to target those responsible for the trafficking and those who solicit sex from them.. Wheat. Nov. 2, 2015. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "In the past, we have heard public criticism to operations like this that amounted to this is just sex between consenting adults, but thats far from the truth," Chief Deputy T.J. Cruz said in a release. He later learned that ranch hand Cody Williams, 31, caught the cow, according to the warrants. It just makes you wonder, where the hell the world is going?". There is no indication from the records that the judge or the ranch hands had a role in the cow killings, which remain unsolved. Our effort is to deter all people from seeking out this criminal behavior, and, therefore, making our County safer for everyone.. In early January, they had a solid sighting on the nearby Wheat Ranch, owned by the family of a legendary wildcatter, J.J. On Thursday, the Collin County Sheriff's Office announced its successful sting operation that took place from March 22 through March 24. What do you think his plan was?. Thank you for reading! A week later, a Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association market inspector told Baker the cows had turned up at the Big Spring Livestock Auction in Big Spring, Texas, about two-and-a-half hours away. The arrests were the result of a join human trafficking operation between multiple local law enforcement agencies. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Lubbock Fire Rescue assisted in the operation, according to police. The warrants allege that Jones and the ranch hands rounded up stray livestock in Loving and Pecos counties and sold them at auctions in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico without first notifying the Sheriffs Office to find their rightful owners a violation of a state law. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) conducts minor sting operations as part of its enforcement of these laws, and the TABC is very transparent about the manner in which they conduct these operations. The undercover officers placed ads that blended in with countless others found online, according to CBS News. Over the course of two days, officers responded to more than 700 communications from 73 different contacts in response to the ads. She welcomes the enforcement and glad to see authorities focusing it on those who are often forced to sell their bodies. Amanda Brim, Lewisville ISDs Chief Communications Officer, said Monday that Morrison was placed on administrative leave when the district was made aware of his arrest, and last week, he submitted his resignation. Skeet, hes not ours, Sparks recalled saying in an interview with NBC News. Federal authorities arrested 46 men in two days after its investigation of sex trafficking cases in North Texas. We will never stop working to identify, locate and apprehend these predators to make our community safer for our children," said Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. In May, they all were booked into Winkler County Jail and released later the same day on bond. Should the Killeen City Council agree to pay an architect $108,000 to design a new City Hall, which may go before voters in the fall? Soliciting prostitution used to be a slap on the wrist misdemeanor charge. Legal Statement. Last year, a 15-year-old girl disappeared from a Dallas Mavericks game at American Airlines Center and was found a few days later in Oklahoma City; three people were arrested on charges of human trafficking. Ten people were arrested, each comment to let us know of abusive posts. More than two dozen children have been rescued and nearly 60 people are facing criminal charges related to online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, police say. Awareness of sexual trafficking and exploitation have grown immensely in recent years, heightened by a handful of high-profile cases. Some of the conversation seemed strange at the time, Baker noted. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Baker alleged in the warrants that Medlin, 35, spotted three bulls and a heifer without markings roaming near the Pecos River in June in Reeves County. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Under Texas law, grand jurors cannot be related by blood or marriage. We also had a semi-pro hockey player. The law went into effect earlier this month. In 2021, Collin County officials made 18 arrests during 'Operation Safe Halloween' and seized a number of electronic devices used to contact young children. "We have no indication the circumstances of his arrest involved students," Brim said. Legal Statement. Men looking to pay for sex who responded to the undercover adds arrived at the hotels in Frisco and Southlake only to find police waiting for them. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In the past, we have heard public criticism to operations like this that amounted to this is just sex between consenting adults, Chief Deputy T.J. Cruz said in the release, but thats far from the truth.. You have permission to edit this article. Jones sold the cattle at auction in New Mexico and sent the money to a boys ranch in Amarillo, according to the warrants. During the operation, investigators seized a large number of electronic devices that will undergo forensic examination and may result in additional criminal charges being filed. Investigators said the alleged list of crimes ranges from meeting victims to possessing harmful material on electronics. WISCONSIN MAN INDICTED IN FORCED LABOR CASE INVOLVING WOMAN HELD AGAINST HER WILL FOR TWO YEARS, Although the names of the 46 suspects have not been released, the Lewisville Independent School District confirmed Marcus High School teacher and football coach Cecil Tim Morrison was among them. 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