El Paso, TX
Categories:
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 | ✓ |
El Paso is a city of approximately 678,00 residents, located in El Paso County, Texas, less 10 miles from Juarez, Mexico along the southern U.S. border. Sex trafficking and prostitution are well-documented problems in the city. Minor females are frequently recovered during prostitution sweeps. In 2014, the FBI collaborated with local police to investigate a prostitution ring involving middle-school and high-school students. At least one serial killer targeting prostituted women has also operated in the city.
In an effort to reduce prostitution activities, the El Paso Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office frequently deploy street-level and web-based reverse stings, performing these operations weekly in 2011-2013. They have been conducting street-level operations since 1985, and web-based operations since 2004. They have also implemented public awareness campaigns, neighborhood watch programs, and publicly disclosed the identities of sex buyers to further combat demand.
The city began using shaming in 2005, when the EPPD began posting photos of convicted sex buyers on their website. In 2007, the El Paso Police Department made the decision to stop using this method. After receiving many comments from the public and the media, the suspension of identity disclosure efforts lasted only nine months before the pictures were posted again.
In August 2018, thirteen men were arrested on suspicion of “agreeing to pay a fee to engage in sexual conduct,” during a four-day reverse sting. The operation was conducted by special agents of the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division in the El Paso area, as part of DPS efforts targeting human trafficking. All the men were arrested on charges of prostitution, and their photos and identities included in news releases.
In January, 2021, a joint operation of the Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies resulted in the arrest of four men charged with online solicitation of a minor, and investigations were initiated for five other suspects. In April 2021, a similar operation produced the arrest of 10 men. The photos and names of the arrested men were included in news releases. In May, 2021 it was announced that the Director of the El Paso History and Art Museums had been arrested in El Paso for allegedly paying for sex with a woman he met online. A City of El Paso spokesperson confirmed to ABC-7 that the man was no longer employed with the city. Police said a joint investigation by the El Paso Police Department’s Vice Unit, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations led to the arrest. The woman that the suspect had allegedly been talking to was an undercover police detective. The suspect agreed to meet with the woman, discussed “services” provided, and allegedly handed the detective $80 as payment. Investigators arrested the man at the scene, and he was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $500 bond.
In January, 2022, multiple agencies collaborated to conduct multiple Adult Prostitution Operations and Online Solicitation of Minor Operations throughout the West Texas Region. Officials said the goal of the operations was to target individuals seeking to exploit and victimize trafficking victims, as well as to identify and apprehend individuals suspected to be involved in human trafficking by using various websites to solicit sexual acts from minors. As a result of these operations, thirty-five (35) suspects were arrested and faced charges. The identities of the 35 arrested individuals were public released, and aw enforcement officials said Special Agents were also able to identify and open investigations into additional suspects. Agencies collaborating on the investigations included: The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID); Texas Highway Patrol; Homeland Security Investigations; El Paso Police Department; Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; Fort Bliss Army CID; Odessa Police Department; Reeves County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas DPS Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Division.
Key Partners
- El Paso Police Department
- El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Criminal Investigations Division
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Socorro Independent School District
Key Sources
National Assessment Survey
Street-Level Reverse Stings:
- “Texas Prostitution Sting Snags War Games Troops”, New York Times, April 22 1997.
- “73 Arrested in 7-Day Prostitution Crackdown”, El Paso Times, May 3 2000.
- “Seven Arrested in Sting”, El Paso Times, October 26 2004.
- “Police Prostitution Sting Nets Dozens of Arrests”, El Paso Time, November 20 2005.
- “Prostitution Case against Principal Is Dropped”, El Paso Times, February 9 2006.
- “19 Men Arrested in Undercover Prostitution Sting”, NBC/KTSM-TV 9, August 10 2009.
- “Teacher Held in Prostitution Sting”, El Paso Times, August 10 2009.
- “Fort Bliss Soldier Among 4 Arrested in Prostitution Sting”, El Paso Times, August 2 2011.
- “Officer Arrested in Prostitution Sting”, NBC/KTSM-TV 9, August 30 2011.
- “Seven Arrested in South-Central El Paso Prostitution Sting”, El Paso Times, April 30 2013.
- https://www.elpasotimes.com/texas-dps-arrest-13-men-prostitution-charges-el-paso-human-trafficking (2018)
- https://www.kvia.com/sisd-teacher-among-13-charged-after-prostitution-sting (2018)
- https://www.ktsm.com/socorro-high-school-teacher-one-of-13-arrested-in-el-paso-prostitution-sting (2018)
- https://www.elpasotimes.com/socorro-high-school-teacher-arrested-el-paso-prostitution-sting- (2018)
Web-Based Reverse Stings:
- “Internet Sex Sting Nets 30 Arrests”, El Paso Times, April 8 2000.
- https://www.elpasotimes.com/el-paso-arrests-tied-fbi-prostitution-operation (2016)
- https://kvia.com/5-el-pasoans-charged-with-soliciting-sex-from-children-online/ (2021)
- https://www.elpasotimes.com/el-paso-prostitution-online-child-solicitation-men-arrests-texas-dps (2021)
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/dps-makes-arrests-online-solicitation-and-prostitution-joint-operation-dps-west-texas-region (2021)
- https://kvia.com/director-of-el-paso-history-and-art-museums-arrested-for-alleged-prostitution/ (2021)
- https://www.ktsm.com/prostitution-sting-nabs-35-including-six-from-el-paso/ (2022)
Identity Disclosure:
- El Paso Police Department Website: Prostitution Arrest Photos
- “Prostitution Suspects Shown on Website”, El Paso Times, November 23 2005.
- “Police Department Website Undergoes Change”, ABC/KVIA-TV 7, December 6 2007.
- “Sheriff Candidates, Wiles and Leon, at Pearson Forum”, Newspaper Tree, March 23 2008.
- https://kvia.com/10-men-from-el-paso-las-cruces-arrested-in-prostitution-sting/ (2021)
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/dps-makes-arrests-online-solicitation-and-prostitution-joint-operation-dps-west-texas-region (2021)
Vehicle Seizure:
Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:
- “73 Arrested in 7-Day Prostitution Crackdown”, El Paso Times, May 3 2000.
- “Tasks Force Seeks Signs of Slave Trade in El Paso”, El Paso Times, December 19 2005.
- “2 Appear in Court in Alleged Sex Trafficking”, El Paso Times, September 3 2011.
- “FBI Breaks Up Prostitution Ring with El Paso Ties”, El Paso Times, October 16 2011.
- “New Charges Levied against 10 in Alleged El Paso, Baltimore Prostitution Scheme”, El Paso Times, November 11 2011.
- “2 in Sex Trafficking Case Remain Jailed”, El Paso Times, June 26 2012.
- “Pimps Arrested, Juvenile Rescued in Federal Sting Operation”, KFOX-TV 14, June 26 2012.
- “Two Alleged Sex Traffickers Arrested in El Paso in National FBI Effort”, El Paso Times, June 26 2012.
- “2 Accused Borderland Sex Traffickers Have Detention Hearings Set”, ABC/KVIA-TV 7, June 28 2012.
- “2 Men Arrested in Forced-Prostitution Case at El Paso Motel”, El Paso Times, March 4 2013.
- “‘Johns’ Won’t Be Named in Border Sex Trafficking Case”, El Paso Times, April 5 2013.
- “Sex-Trafficking Defendant Claimed Protection from El Paso Police, Feds”, El Paso Times, April 6 2013.
- “Former Central El Paso Massage Business Owner Pleads Guilty in Prostitution Case”, El Paso Times, April 17 2013.
- “Former Central El Paso Massage Business Owner Sentenced to Probation in Prostitution Case”, El Paso Times, September 27 2013.
- “Accused Head of El Paso-Based Sex Trafficking Ring Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea”, El Paso Times, September 30 2013.
- “Prostitution Ring: Four Men Face Court Date in El Paso-Based Sex Trafficking Scheme”, El Paso Times, October 6 2013.
- “Witness in Sex-Trafficking Trial Says She Was Lured with Fake Job Ad”, El Paso Times, November 15 2013.
- “El Paso Sex-Trafficking Case Highlights Ongoing Problem”, El Paso Times, November 25 2013.
- “El Paso County Juvenile Probation Officer Charged in Connection with Sex Trafficking Gang”, El Paso Times, January 22 2014.
- “Probation Officer, 7 Others Arrested for Texas Prostitution Ring”, United Press International, January 22 2014.
- “El Paso County Probation Officer Accused of Sex Trafficking Met Victims through Job”, El Paso Times, January 24 2014.
- “Gangs Increasingly Force Teens, Women into Prostitution”, El Paso Times, April 4 2014.
- “Sex Trade Moves from Streets to Online; Law Enforcement Follows”, El Paso Times, April 5 2014.
- “Ex-Juarez Police Officer, Son Allegedly Forced Women into Prostitution”, El Paso Times, June 14 2014.
- “FBI Investigating Prostitution Ring at YISD”, El Paso Times, June 24 2014.
- “Man Gets Life Sentence for El Paso Prostitution Scam,” CBS/KILT-AM 680, September 4 2014.
- “El Paso Couple Pleads Guilty in Prostitution Case,” CBS/KHOU-TV 11, October 23 2014.
- “Former Juvenile Probation Officer Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of Children,” El Paso Times, June 30 2015.
- “Socorro Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Sex Trafficking of Minors,” ABC/KVIA-TV 8, October 7 2015.
Background on Prostitution in the Area:
- “Army’s Adultery Rule Is Don’t Get Caught”, New York Times, May 17 1997.
- “7 Charged in Prostitution Sting”, El Paso Times, May 25 2009.
- “Former Strip Club Manager Testifies that Dancers, Waitresses Participated in Prostitution”, El Paso Times, June 15 2009.
- “An Inside Look at Prostitution in El Paso”, NBC/KTSM-TV 9, August 8 2009.
- “EXCLUSIVE: KFOX Cameras Catch Suspected Prostitute’s Arrest”, KFOX-TV 14, February 12 2010.
- “7 Arrested after Undercover Prostitution Investigation”, El Paso Times, February 13 2010.
- “Prostitution Ring Had Headquarters in El Paso’s Upper Valley”, KFOX-TV 9, November 2 2011.
- “Prostitution Ring Suspect to Appear in Court”, NBC/KTSM-TV 9, November 2 2011.
- “Internet Prostitution Sting Operation Leads to 9 Arrests”, NBC/KTSM-TV 9, March 26 2012.
- “Officials: Man at El Paso County Courthouse Tried to Pimp Women Filing for Divorce”, El Paso Times, August 15 2012.
- “Alleged El Paso Courthouse Pimp Arrested Again”, El Paso Times, September 1 2012.
- “Prostitution Ring Trial Rescheduled for Massage Parlor Owner”, NBC/KTSM-TV 9, December 5 2012.
- “El Paso Police Fight Online Prostitution; County Studies Need for Prevention Program as Commercial Sex Industry Moves from Streets to Cyberspace”, El Paso Times, October 21 2013.
- https://kvia.com/news/far-east-el-paso-county-massage-parlor-shut-down-amid-sex-allegations/ (2021)
- https://nationworldnews.com/massage-parlor-closed-in-west-el-paso/ (2023)
- https://kfoxtv.com/allegations-of-prostitution-sexual-services-prompts-closure-of-spa-near-el-paso-airport (2023)
Documented Violence Against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:
- “El Paso Police Seek Help after Identifying 5th Body”, El Paso Times, November 5 1987.
- “Suspect in 5 Deaths Convicted of Assault”, Houston Chronicle, March 18 1988.
- “Police Identify Woman’s Bones Found in Desert Outside of El Paso”, El Paso Times, March 20 1988.
- “El Paso County Jury Indicts Jailed Rapist in Slayings”, Houston Chronicle, July 14 1990.
- “Jailed Rapist Indicted in 6 El Paso-Area Serial Slayings”, Dallas Morning News, July 14 1990.
- “Grief and Determination; Mother of Victim in El Paso Slayings Waits for Justice”, Dallas Morning News, September 6 1992.
- “Trial Begins for Man Accused of Serial Killings in El Paso”, Austin American-Statesman, September 8 1992.
- “Rapist Goes on Trial in Murder Case; The Victims’ Bodies Were Recovered from Desert Graves in 1987 and 1988 in Northeast El Paso”, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 22 1992.
- “Desert Deaths; Jury Finds Man Guilty in Desert Slayings”, San Antonio Express-News, November 11 1992.
- “El Paso Man Convicted of Killing 6 Women, Girls”, Dallas Morning News, November 11 1992.
- “David L. Wood’s Path from El Paso to Death Row”, El Paso Times, August 9 2009.
- “David Leonard Wood to Be Executed Aug. 20”, El Paso Times, August 9 2009.
- “Answers Still Sought: Slaying Case Keys on Man in Cowboy Hat”, El Paso Times, November 1 2010.
| State | Texas |
| Type | City |
| Population | 679813 |
| Location |
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