Southlake, TX

Tactics Used

Auto Seizure
Buyer Arrests
Cameras
Community Service
Employment Loss
Identity Disclosure
IT Based Tactics
John School
Letters
License Suspension
Neighborhood Action
Public Education
Reverse Stings
SOAP Orders
Web Stings

Southlake is a Texas city located predominantly in Tarrant County with minor areas extending into Denton County.  It is a suburb of Dallas/Fort Worth, and has a population of approximately 31,000. Human trafficking and prostitution activity in the city, as well as the region, have been well documented for decades. Among the tactics used to address both prostitution and sex trafficking are those that target consumer level demand for commercial sex.  For example, in January, 2021 dozens of men were arrested in a large-scale undercover prostitution sting in Southlake and Frisco. Roughly a dozen law enforcement agencies participated in the operation Jan. 12 and 13 at a hotel at Southlake Town Square and another hotel near Stonebriar Centre in Frisco. The men had arranged online to meet at the hotels intending to pay for sex. Officials did not immediately divulge names of those arrested. The men face charges of solicitation of prostitution, a felony in Texas punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.  An Agent who oversees the North Texas Trafficking Task Force, (part of Homeland Security Investigations) said:

“When you think of trafficking, you think of streets in Dallas or Fort Worth or strip clubs.  But there’s a lot of demand in the suburbs.”

This was the second extensive commercial sex sting operation in North Texas suburbs within a few month. Police had arrested 23 people in September, 2022 at a short-term rental property in Plano.

In addition to the trafficking task force, agencies included the Arlington, Colleyville, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, Irving and Midlothian police departments, Collin County, Dallas County and Tarrant County sheriff’s departments and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. The operation coincided with the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign to highlight Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which is January.

Key Partners

  • Homeland Security Investigations
  • North Texas Trafficking Task Force
  • Arlington Police Department
  • Colleyville Police Department
  • Dallas Police Department
  • Flower Mound Police Department
  • Frisco Police Department
  • Irving Police Department
  • Midlothian Police Department
  • Collin County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
  • Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dallas County District Attorney’s Office

Key Sources

Web-Based Reverse Stings:

Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:

Background on Prostitution in the Area:

State Texas
Type City
Population 31105
Location
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