The arrests were the result of a join human trafficking operation between multiple local law enforcement agencies. In the past, we have heard public criticism to operations like this that amounted to this is just sex between consenting adults, Chief Deputy TJ Cruz said, but thats far from the truth., In a previous sting, we arrested an individual with body bags, duct tape, bleach in his trunk, Cruz continued. racist or sexually-oriented language. The devices are being examined forensically and may lead to the investigation of other offenders and additional charges. Be Truthful. 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.. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Possession of Child Pornography Possession of Lewd Visual Material Texas DPS, Michael W. Newhouse, Sr. "We had a high school teacher, who is also a football coach, we had a youth pastor," said John Perez with Homeland Security Investigations. So both forensically, reactively and proactively, we go after these individuals who are exploiting our children," said Detective Jeff Rich, with the Plano Police Department. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A police sting operation in Texas City led to the arrest of two women on prostitution charges and 11 men allegedly seeking prostitutes, Texas City police said Monday. But Jones supporters say he was set up. We also had a semi-pro hockey player. 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. These are individuals that we've told our children are safe. Scott Wooden was arrested on Feb. 11 during a prostitution sting operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriffs Department. A high school teacher and football coach. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Read the crime and public safety news your neighbors are talking about. North Texas is under storm risk levels 2, 3 and 4. You go ahead., Alvarado, Jones ranch hand, roped the bull in a pasture and helped load him into a trailer. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Teachers, firemen, nurses, and so that's extremely concerning in this particular operation. A Connecticut woman says her two 10-year-old German Shepherds, Cimo and Lieben, were shot, beheaded, and killed by a hunter from New York. Can I still get Beyonc tickets? (Jones and the other defendants declined to comment. On Jan. 6, the same day that Sparks and Jones chatted at the courthouse, Baker got a tip that the black bull was en route from Jones ranch to the Big Spring Sale Barn. Sarah Bahari is a trending news reporter. The operation was carried out by about 15 officers from the Texas City crime suppression unit, the U.S. What is the biggest issue affecting Killeen? 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. This is the second extensive commercial sex sting operation involving North Texas suburbs in recent months. Miles is an award-winning reporter who has been covering North Texas for CBS 11 since 1996. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. The names of the suspects were not released by federal authorities. Australian Federal Police blurred the suspect's face due to privacy concerns. The operation was a partnership with the Bell County Organized Crime Unit, Fort Hood Military Police and Fort Hood Criminal Investigations Divisions. Its unknown if the two steers were strays, Baker wrote, but the judge piqued his suspicion about the black cow by referring to it as a wild cow in a text message. "Our primary goal is to protect children. 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. ", Perez added that this sting operation proves that sex trafficking is prevalent everywhere. Be Proactive. Theres no question about that, said Steve Simonsen, who is the Loving County attorney and married to a cousin of Jones. 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. Keep it Clean. Below are those formally charged so far in the operation. "In some of these stings you see blue-collar workers, executives, all types, but in this specific one, there's a number of first responders, and we expect first responders either help us in an unsafe situation, or we feel safe with them," said Hohman. I positively identified the pair as being the same reddish-brown cow and calf I had released in Loving County, he wrote. 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 Are you in favor of allowing Killeen residents to have backyard chickens, as outlined in a proposed ordinance? By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Anyone who is a victim or has information about other local sex trafficking cases is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). It's not immediately clear which of the suspects listed below have obtained attorneys. 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 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 and arrest warrants stemming from a Dateline NBC Perverted-Justice online sting of men soliciting sex with children.. Perverted-Justice (PJ) and Dateline conducted their 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 In 2021, Collin County officials made 18 arrests during 'Operation Safe Halloween' and seized a number of electronic devices used to contact young children. 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. During this weeks operation, one of the defendants negotiated a price but arrived with no money. So they put the mother in the pen and let her call her calf up, so they could catch it. ODESSA, TX (KWES) - Seven people were arrested on prostitution related charges after an undercover operation in Odessa. Weeks passed. 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. January 20, 2023 / 10:14 PM Jones called up Alan Sparks, 64, the Wheat Ranch foreman, and asked for permission to try to catch the black bull. These were among the 46 men arrested in a massive undercover prostitution sting this month in Frisco and Southlake, local and federal authorities announced. Alongside the Bell County Organized Crime Unit, the Fort Hood Military Police and the Fort Hood Criminal Investigations Division, the Sheriff's Department conducted a two-day sting operation in Central Texas. 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. Bell County Sheriffs Department released the identities of 10 men arrested on prostitution charges in a human trafficking suppression operation that Dallas police officer fired, another suspended over separate incidents, officials say, Thunderstorms roll through North Texas. 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. I never, never, ever had a conversation about stray cattle with the judge.. The North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and FBI Dallas Divisions Child Exploitation Task Force said Friday that from Jan. 16 through Feb. 10 highly skilled computer crimes investigators from agencies around North Texas took part in Operation Janus, an effort to identify and rescue children forced into sexual acts and arrest the abusers who were trafficking images and videos of those acts online. In Texas, the solicitation of prostitution is considered a felony and is punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 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. The backstory of what led to the arrests of Jones, a former sheriffs deputy and two ranch hands in May is chronicled in a stack of warrants obtained by NBC News. Bell County Sheriffs Department released the identities of 10 men arrested on prostitution charges in a human trafficking suppression operation that concluded Thursday, according to a news release Saturday. FRISCO, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) Federal authorities announced a major crackdown on prostitution that reveals sex trafficking in North Texas remains an ongoing problem. It is common practice for officers to engage in this behavior in a prostitution sting in order to gain the suspects trust and carry out the sting operation in Texas. In May, they all were booked into Winkler County Jail and released later the same day on bond. or redistributed. The men looking to pay for sex responded to the ads, arrived at the hotels in Frisco and Southlake, and were greeted by police officers waiting for them. Known as "Operation Home Alone", law enforcement officials used the undercover operation to target suspects believed to have been preying on young adolescents online. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. accounts, the history behind an article. When ranch hand Cody Williams pulled up at the barn hauling the bull, Baker was waiting. These were among the 46 men arrested in a massive The law went into effect earlier this month. The Dallas area has a problem with sex trafficking, and authorities are using sting operations among other things to crack down. Randy Reynolds, the district attorney in charge of prosecuting felony cases, did not return phone calls. The Sheriff's Department said they are concerned about possible links between prostitution and human trafficking. "Here in Collin County, we will continue to do what is necessary to protect our children," said Sheriff Skinner. Officers responded to more than 700 messages from 73 different people in response to ads placed as part of the sting over two days. BELTON, Texas (FOX 44) A prostitution sting in Bell County has resulted in ten arrests. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas officials said the undercover operation coincides with the Department of Homeland Securitys Blue Campaign to highlight Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Then Baker got a tip on Nov. 4 that the reddish-brown cow and her calf had been captured and were penned up on the Joneses family ranch, the warrants state. The latest attempt on July 7 to get enough qualified grand jurors failed for two reasons, he said. ), Three days later, Sparks saw the judge at the courthouse and they chatted briefly about the bull, Sparks said. 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. "The victims of these heinous crimes are treated like commodities, used to make as much money as possible, as quickly as possible," Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn told Fox 4. On the first day of the operation, six individuals were arrested. Nobody's safe? In regards to sex trafficking and child pornography, Hohman said there's no bias and that people from all walks of life, jobs and backgrounds can commit these crimes. KPD: Man charged in 2020 Killeen homicide case, First Cavalry Division reflects on shared history with Buffalo Soldiers, Ex-ABC journalist charged in child sexual exploitation case, Reader weighs in on BISD decision to allow staffers to carry guns, 10 Heights residents currently preparing to run in May 6 municipal election, Heights reader asserts injustice should never be the standard, Killeen 3rd-grader finds bullet at school, Killeen City Council candidates talk crime, other issues at newspaper forum, Killeen man accused of breaking into frozen treats shop, Killeen burglar headed to prison for 8 years, Cove Fire Department announces Young as new chief, Confederate controversy: Minor launches campaign to raise money for statue relocation. 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. This is the second extensive commercial sex sting operation involving North Texas suburbs in recent months. Nov. 2, 2015. Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. quote: Ten Central Texas men ranging in age from 23 to 77 are charged with state jail felonies 10 men were arrested Wednesday and Thursday in a sting operation In a previous sting, we arrested an individual with body bags, duct tape and bleach in his trunk, Cruz said. ", The Sheriffs Department says it's also concerned with the potential connection between prostitution and human trafficking. Our effort is to deter all people from seeking out this criminal behavior, and, therefore, making our County safer for everyone.. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. WebLike many other states, Texas police run plenty of sting operations. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Human smugglers showed off their successful smuggling operation through a remote stretch of West Texas desert, posting a video online where they inadvertently revealed their location to law enforce Agents in both Texas and Mississippi teamed up making a total of 15 arrests. Investigators also seized terabytes of data and electronic devices that were being used during the commission of these crimes. 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. Authorities in Texas have arrested nearly 50 people, including one high school teacher and a youth pastor, as part of a sting operation aimed at combatting sex trafficking. First published on January 20, 2023 / 10:14 PM. person will not be tolerated. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 10 men arrested in prostitution sting in Belton; 6 from Killeen, By Jana Lynn Kilcrease | Herald Staff Writer. On Thursday, the Collin County Sheriff's Office announced its successful sting operation that took place from March 22 through March 24. Spring turned to summer as Baker built his case, chasing new tips. Six people were arrested on Feb. 22 and an additional four were arrested on Feb. 23. BELTON, Texas ( FOX 44) A prostitution sting in Bell County has resulted in ten arrests. The men allegedly arranged online to meet at the hotels where they intended to pay for sex, authorities said. Advocates who help women and children survivors of sex trafficking said the arrests shed light on a bigger problem. 10 men were arrested last week in a sting operation in Belton. As Baker and other special rangers investigated, they also laid the groundwork for their sting operation. 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 men had arranged online to meet at the hotels intending to pay for sex, authorities said. 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. 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. By Kevin Krause 6:07 PM on May 24, 2021 CDT Some individuals are in custody but charges are pending.Additional names and charges are to be released. In June, Texas officials participated in a three-week operation, known as "Operation Lost Souls." And an operations director of a large hospital network. In an interview with NBC News, Busse reiterated the denial, saying it was 100 percent false. The Wheat Ranch no longer runs cattle, Sparks said. "Many prostitutes are themselves victims of human trafficking," Cruz said. Ten people were arrested, ranging in age from 23 to 77. ', Greek transport minister resigns over train crash; 36 dead, Lineup announced for this years Capitol Hill Block Party, There's no shortage of salt for NYC roads, Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey reveals she still cries watching the hit movie: 'Feels like I'm living it', Temple University students march and protest to demand better safety. Busse, the sheriff, denied that to Baker. Chief Deputy TJ Cruz explained that operations like these are meant to protect public safety and prevent human trafficking. A high school teacher and football coach and a local youth pastor were among the 46 men arrested in a massive undercover prostitution sting in Texas, local and federal authorities announced. 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