In Texas, the solicitation of prostitution is considered a felony and is punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The names of the suspects were not released by federal authorities. Baker asked. Some of these were teachers who have direct access to our children. Baker wrote in the warrant that Jones told him during the interview at the sheriffs office that his understanding of the estray law is that if cattle are not marked, anyone can claim them., Jones told Baker the sheriff had given him permission to take strays to sale as long as they werent marked or branded. Legal Statement. Some individuals are in custody but charges are pending.Additional names and charges are to be released. 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. WebLike many other states, Texas police run plenty of sting operations. Example video title will go here for this video. "I'm very happy to see those soliciting being prosecuted because if there's no demand there's no supply," said Chelsea Robertson. 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. Baker made it over there before they could be sold, he wrote. Wheat. Another concern is for potential solicitors or johns themselves, who have often become the victims of other crimes. Texas law enforcement worked to uncover a huge prostitute sting of 46 community men. 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. Use the 'Report' link on "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. She previously worked as a writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where she covered a bit of everything. On Feb. 22-23, digital ads were placed on known websites promoting prostitution. Sarah Rumpf is a writer on the breaking news team for Fox News Digital. Many prostitutes are themselves victims of human trafficking, Cruz said. The Wheat Ranch no longer runs cattle, Sparks said. The names of the suspects were not released by federal authorities. 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 accounts, the history behind an article. 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. "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. 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. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Lubbock Fire Rescue assisted in the operation, according to police. 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 asked if theyd contacted the sheriffs office and Williams replied that it was above his pay grade. The people charged as a result of this operation preyed on some of our most vulnerable, our children. Don't Threaten. Each of the defendants arrests have been reviewed by the Bell County District Attorneys office and all criminal charges have been accepted, the release stated. You have permission to edit this article. Agents in both Texas and Mississippi teamed up making a total of 15 arrests. Define Prostitution in Texas A person can be charged with prostitution under Section 43.02 of the Texas Penal Code in two situations: So they put the mother in the pen and let her call her calf up, so they could catch it. Miles is an award-winning reporter who has been covering North Texas for CBS 11 since 1996. Texas authorities say a precinct chief was among over a dozen people arrested in an undercover prostitution sting operation. 10 men were arrested Wednesday and Thursday in a sting operation in Belton. Investigators also seized terabytes of data and electronic devices that were being used during the commission of these crimes. No, the sheriff replied, hed never gotten a report of stray cattle from anyone on the judges ranch, the records state. Nov. 2, 2015. In a previous sting, we arrested an individual with body bags, duct tape and bleach in his trunk, Cruz said. I applaud the dedication of these task force groups, including members of the Dallas Police Department, to bring these suspects to justice. person will not be tolerated. quote: On Thursday, the Collin County Sheriff's Office announced its successful sting operation that took place from March 22 through March 24. 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 said in a prepared statement. Federal authorities arrested 46 men in two days after its investigation of sex trafficking cases in North Texas. DALLAS Twenty-three people have been arrested in relation to an online sex trafficking scheme, Dallas police told WFAA on Thursday. 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. HOUSTON The day Texass new law regarding solicitation of prostitution went into effect, Houston police ran a sting operation in an area known as the Bissonnet Track.. On the first day of the operation, six individuals were arrested. "We have no indication the circumstances of his arrest involved students," Brim said. The Department reported that six people were arrested on the first day of the operation, and four were arrested on the second day. 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 report from CBS News. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. 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. And then the ripple effect of that is we'll catch people that are making these types of offenses. 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. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Sarah Bahari is a trending news reporter. Then, on March 8, 2021, a Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden contacted Baker. When police have a strong suspicion that an individual has a predisposition to commit a crime, they may set up a sting operation to After trying fruitlessly to catch them by putting out feed as bait, Jones and Medlin and the other ranch hands rounded them up in September with the help of a helicopter. 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. The accused listed below are presumed innocent until proven guilty. "Our primary goal is to protect children. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. But what do they mean? He said people have this "misconception" that sex trafficking only occurs in certain parts of Dallas. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. What will ending the COVID-19 emergency look like in the US. And an operations director of a large hospital network. About two weeks later, Baker asked Williams to come to the sheriffs office for an interview. J.D. 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. 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? 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. High 83F. And an operations director of a large hospital network. First published on January 20, 2023 / 10:14 PM. In June, Texas officials participated in a three-week operation, known as "Operation Lost Souls." But for weeks, the black bull continued to elude Jones and his ranch hands, even though they put out feed and water, Baker wrote. BELL COUNTY, Texas Ten "would-be johns" have been arrested in a joint prostitution sting in Bell County, according "We had a high school teacher, who is also a football coach, we had a youth pastor," Perez said. He later learned that ranch hand Cody Williams, 31, caught the cow, according to the warrants. Latest timing, chances, Gallery: Photos of 2021 I-35W pileup released with NTSB report, Longhorn Ballroom, famed Dallas dancehall, reopening in spring 2023 after renovations, Man arrested in connection to shooting death of 16-year-old girl found in Oak Cliff creek, police say. Each of the arrested individuals was charged with Soliciting a Prostitute, a state felony in Texas. As Baker and other special rangers investigated, they also laid the groundwork for their sting operation. Each of those arrested individuals were charged with soliciting a prostitute, a state felony in Texas. Law officials say 15 arrests were made following an undercover online child solicitation operation. 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. 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. Teachers, firemen, nurses, and so that's extremely concerning in this particular operation. In Frisco, two hotels were used for an undercover operation resulting in the arrests of 46 men in only two days. Advocates who help women and children survivors of sex trafficking said the arrests shed light on a bigger problem. Bell County residents, who suspect or have knowledge of human trafficking or are in need of assistance themselves, can reach out locally to Aware Central Texas at 254-813-0968, or can nationally report by calling the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or by texting "Help" to 233733 (BEFREE). 11:30 AM on Jan 23, 2023 CST Updated at 11:54 AM on Jan 23, 2023 CST. Police arrested a youth pastor and a high school coach and teacher for Using information from informants, he expanded his investigation to include Leroy Medlin, a former Loving County Sheriffs deputy whod been fired from the San Antonio Police Department and was working as a part-time ranch hand for Jones. racist or sexually-oriented language. Williams told Baker the bull was feral and came from the river, according to the warrants. (Jones and the other defendants declined to comment. Be Truthful. Officers responded to more than 700 messages from 73 different people in response to ads placed as part of the sting over two days. One was also charged with resisting arrest. The operation was carried out by about 15 officers from the Texas City crime suppression unit, the U.S. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Market data provided by Factset. So we'll go at it from that aspect first. Law enforcement groups say over the course of the operation, 28 children were rescued from online sexual abuse, and investigators seized terabytes of data and 10 men were arrested last week in a sting operation in Belton. ", Skinner urges parents to talk with their children about their devices and to "report any suspicious activity to their nearest law enforcement agency.". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bakers conversation with the judge turned to the black bull. Known as "Operation Home Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. 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. The Bell County Sheriff's Department says that the sting was part of a Human Trafficking Suppression operation in partnership with the Bell County Organized Crime Unit, the Fort Hood Military Police, and the Fort Hood Criminal Investigations Division. GALVESTON, Texas - Fourteen were arrested after a sting operation was conducted in Galveston. ", Perez added that this sting operation proves that sex trafficking is prevalent everywhere. During this weeks operation, one of the defendants negotiated a price but arrived with no money. Jones lawyer did not return phone calls.). The Dallas Police Department's Special Investigation Division ran an operation targeting online sex trafficking in the city of Dallas and Collin County. 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