Soliciting prostitution used to be a slap on the wrist misdemeanor charge. Baker made it over there before they could be sold, he wrote. Jones sold the cattle at auction in New Mexico and sent the money to a boys ranch in Amarillo, according to the warrants. The Dallas Police Department's Special Investigation Division ran an operation targeting online sex trafficking in the city of Dallas and Collin County. The six men identified as being from from Killeen are Jamal Davis, 23; Shawn Ginn, 37; Vicente Pereira, 47; Luis Ramirez, 32; Kevin Roe, 26; and Brian Whipple, 55. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. "We have no indication the circumstances of his arrest involved students," Brim said. But earlier this month, federal authorities showed that sex trafficking is happening in the shadows of Southlake's Town Square and Frisco's Stonebriar Mall. In Texas, the solicitation of prostitution is considered a felony and is punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Sheriff's Department said they are concerned about possible links between prostitution and human trafficking. Sparks recalled the judge saying, Well, hes going to market., Sparks, whos lived in Loving County for more than three decades, said the first step after finding cattle is clear: You turn them over to the sheriff., Asked if thats common knowledge, Sparks said: Hes a judge! Define Prostitution in Texas A person can be charged with prostitution under Section 43.02 of the Texas Penal Code in two situations: "They can be subjected to physical and sexual assault, robbery, and even murder. Legal Statement. Chief Deputy TJ Cruz explained that operations like these are meant to protect public safety and prevent human trafficking. 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, Mickail Dukes, Manifestation of Prostitution Dallas PD, Brandon Froning, Possession of Child Pornography Dallas PD, Justin Peters, Possession of Child Pornography Garland PD, Noah Craver, Possession of Child Pornography Plano PD, Vincent Hammack, Possession of Child Pornography Plano PD, Joshua Drake, Possession of Child Pornography Wylie PD, Michael A. Newhouse, Jr. If youre a special ranger and youre really interested in stopping rustling, you dont sneak out in the middle of the night and unload a bunch of cattle that you secretly microchipped, Simonsen said. "Our primary goal is to protect children. FRISCO, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) Federal authorities announced a major crackdown on prostitution that reveals sex trafficking in North Texas remains an ongoing Spring turned to summer as Baker built his case, chasing new tips. Ten people were arrested, ranging in age from 23 to 77. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. "Many prostitutes are themselves victims of human trafficking," Cruz said. Federal authorities arrested 46 men in two days after its investigation of sex trafficking cases in North Texas. Be Nice. There was a problem saving your notification. accounts, the history behind an article. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. 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. Dallas police officer fired, another suspended over separate incidents, officials say, Thunderstorms roll through North Texas. Residents can contact Aware Central Texas at 254-813-0968 locally or can report nationally by calling the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by texting "Help" to 233733. "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.". 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. WACO, Texas (FOX 44) Twelve arrests have been made in a McLennan County prostitution sting. A youth pastor was among the 46 men arrested after an investigation revealed those suspected behind sex trafficking cases in North Texas, according to a Loving County, the least-populated county in the continental U.S., had 57 residents as of the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimate. 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. W&P Porter bowl review: A container that makes office Texas-based Corner Bakery Cafe files for bankruptcy, We tried the chicken fried steak that (briefly) shut down Mr. Juicy, Luna Rosa opens in former Rosario's Southtown location, San Antonio congressman Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, San Antonio's massive pirate-themed park delays opening date, Buc-ee's plans global domination with a proposed Wisconsin store, DPS sent at least 3,000 drivers licenses to organized crime group targeting Asian Texans. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Investigators also seized terabytes of data and electronic devices that were being used during the commission of these crimes. ", Skinner urges parents to talk with their children about their devices and to "report any suspicious activity to their nearest law enforcement agency.". But Jones supporters say he was set up. (Alvarado later told Baker hed checked the bull for markings and brands and there were none. WACO, Texas (FOX 44) Twelve arrests have been made in a McLennan County prostitution sting. For a month-long operation, it's very representative of the vast number of people that are addicted to pornography, and what I believe is an epidemic in our country," said Jennifer Hohman, an advocate who helps women and children who have been exploited in sex trafficking. Can I still get Beyonc tickets? "I want to thank the investigators who participated in this operation for their hard work and dedication to bring this group of sexual predators to justice," said Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner. A youth pastor. Read the crime and public safety news your neighbors are talking about. What do you think his plan was? The latest attempt on July 7 to get enough qualified grand jurors failed for two reasons, he said. And then the ripple effect of that is we'll catch people that are making these types of offenses. 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. Skeet Jones mentioned that he and his ranch hands catch stray cattle and sell them and donate the money to boys ranches in Texas. In May, they all were booked into Winkler County Jail and released later the same day on bond. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Bell County Sheriffs Department, with its partners the Bell County Organized Crime Unit, th Out of the arrests, 11 were charged with online solicitation of a minor, four with prostitution of a person less than 18-years-old, one charged with sexual performance of a child, and one with possession of child pornography. She explained that the progression of people looking at illicit mages and videos can lead to action and put even more children in harm's way and also lead to sex trafficking. 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. Baker recently was appointed police chief in Coleman, Texas his hometown and left his job as a special ranger, though Fuchs said Baker will still see this case through. It's all over the metroplex.". 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Inherently, minor sting operations involve the TABC going undercover to identify establishments that sell alcoholic The people charged as a result of this operation preyed on some of our most vulnerable, our children. Officials in El Paso, Midland, Ector and Tom Green recovered 70 children ranging in age from 10 to 17 who were victims of sex trafficking, physical and sexual abuse, according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security. Over the course of two days, officers responded to more than 700 communications from 73 different contacts in response to the ads. According to LPD, the sting was conducted on February 9 in the 5800 block of 6th Street. A 60-day sting operation conducted by law enforcement officers from several agencies netted the arrests of nearly a dozen suspects accused of committing crimes Nov. 2, 2015. Another concern is for potential solicitors or johns themselves, who have often become the victims of other crimes. The documents detail a yearlong investigation, replete with confidential informants and a sting operation involving a reddish-brown cow, her calf and the black yearling bull all equipped by the special rangers with microchips. 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 sting operation comes on the heels of a new Texas prostitution law which went into effect on September 1, 2021, which turned the crime of soliciting prostitution from a Class B Misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony, which carries up to two years in state jail and a fine up to $10,000. , ranging in age from 23 to 77 are concerned about possible links between prostitution and human trafficking ''! 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