The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies announced Monday the arrests of 56 people during a nine-day human trafficking enforcement operation conducted in Tarrant County during the World Cup.
According to TCSO, 10 of those arrested were accused of trying to meet minors for sex. Authorities said the suspects believed they were arranging to sexually exploit children ranging in age from 4 to 15. Another 14 investigations remain active, with arrest warrants pending.
Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn called human trafficking “modern-day slavery” in a written release. During Monday’s news conference, he issued a warning to traffickers who remain active.
“We were rescuing people as well as putting people in jail, and for the traffickers that are still out there that are still operating, you chuckleheads, we are coming for you because we will not tolerate that in the greater Tarrant County area,” Waybourn said.
Image courtesy: Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
The operation
The multi-agency operation took place over nine days in Arlington, Fort Worth and other parts of Tarrant County.
Sgt. Tarik Muslimovic with the Arlington Police Department said officers from multiple agencies posed as sex workers online, eventually directing people who allegedly agreed to pay for sex to a location in Arlington where officers were waiting. He said 13 men were arrested on charges of solicitation of prostitution.
Muslimovic said officers also responded to online sex ads in an effort to identify potential trafficking victims. Another part of the operation targeted people suspected of trying to solicit minors for sex.
“So far, these efforts have resulted in arrests of 10 suspects, who all have been charged with online solicitation of a minor,” Muslimovic said. “We continue to investigate several other cases related to this operation that could result in additional arrests.”
Police also conducted four face-to-face undercover operations targeting people attempting to purchase sex, resulting in 18 arrests.
Law enforcement officials said major events can create opportunities for traffickers because of the influx of visitors.
“These partnerships are critical when a major event like FIFA World Cup comes to town,” Muslimovic said. “We know traffickers view large events as opportunities, and so by pooling our resources together, we can make a greater impact.”
Federal partnership:
The U.S. Secret Service played a direct role in the targeting of people suspected of trying to solicit minors in Arlington..
Christopher Barnes, an assistant special agent in charge of the agency’s Dallas Field Office, said the Secret Service provided personnel to communicate with suspects online, along with technical expertise and analysis. Barnes said investigators identified and communicated with people they believed were looking to exploit minors, work that ultimately contributed to arrests.
“The United States Secret Service is deeply committed to supporting our partners, protecting children, and aggressively pursuing those who commit crimes against minors, Barnes said. Barnes said. “We will continue to dedicate our resources and expertise to identifying, investigating, and stopping individuals who look to harm children online.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also highlighted the Secret Service’s cyber capabilities and the role those tools can play in human trafficking investigations.
“These tools help solve cold cases. These tools help rescue victims of crime and human trafficking, said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Folks. For too long, trafficking cases have slipped through gaps created by overlapping jurisdictions, understaffed task forces, and systems that treated victims, oftentimes as an afterthought.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said two cases have already resulted in federal charges for attempted enticement of a minor. Prosecutors said both defendants allegedly believed they were attempting to meet a 14-year-old boy. Other cases remain under federal review.
Victims
Officials said nearly 45 trafficking victims were identified or rescued during the operation and connected with services. Two nonprofit organizations, Unbound Now and Rescue Hill, worked alongside law enforcement to support survivors.
“We can offer them long-term services, which is for life change, because coming from that kind of trauma is absolutely immense,” said Susan Peters of Unbound Now. “We can walk alongside them day in and day out over the long haul, getting them connected to safe housing, to education, jobs, all the different kinds of things that get their life together.”
Peters described the evolving relationship between law enforcement and service providers, noting that trafficking victims may be conditioned by their traffickers to fear law enforcement.
Unbound Now said its advocates can respond immediately with short-term needs like clothing, transportation, and medical care, but also help connect them to longer-term resources like counseling, education, and employment.
Amanda Pettit, founder and executive director of Rescue Hill, stressed that an enforcement operation can be only the beginning for someone who has been trafficked.
“Success isn’t simply identifying a victim or making an arrest,” Pettit said. “Success is helping a woman discover that exploitation does not have to be the end of her story.”
What’s Next
Authorities said Operation Red Card is not over.
Fourteen additional investigations remain active, with arrest warrants pending, according to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. Federal prosecutors also said multiple cases are under review for possible federal charges.
Two defendants have already been federally charged with attempted enticement of a minor, and the U.S. attorney said he expects additional cases to emerge from the operation.