San Antonio, TX
Categories:
Tactics Used |
|
---|---|
Reverse stings | ✓ |
Shaming | ✓ |
Auto seizure | ✓ |
Community service | ✓ |
Public education | ✓ |
Neighborhood action | ✓ |
SOAP orders | ✓ |
John school | ✓ |
Letters | ✓ |
Cameras | ✓ |
Web stings | ✓ |
License suspension | ✓ |
San Antonio is a large city in southern Texas’ Bexar County, and with a population of over 1.5 million residents, San Antonio is the largest city in southern Texas, the second largest city in Texas, as well as the 4th largest city in the United States. Prostitution and child sex trafficking have been identified by community leaders and law enforcement agencies as substantial problems in the city. In addition, local law enforcement and media outlets have reported cases of the targeted attack and murder of sex sellers, including a 2013 case involving a woman who took money but refused to have sex with a john who then killed her.
Among their efforts to address prostitution and related crimes, law enforcement have incorporated tactics that focus on underlying demand for commercial sex. Some operations have been large in scale; for example, in 2012, several collaborating agencies including the San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement arrested 64 men in just under nine hours for trying to buy sex from three undercover policewomen. During the operation, police also impounded 47 vehicles used by the johns for soliciting sex.
The SAPD has also conducted several, smaller-scale reverse stings in targeted areas of the city following complaints from residents about street prostitution. In January 2013, SAPD undercover officers posed as decoy sex sellers, resulting in the arrest of dozens of sex buyers on the city’s South Side. In July 2014, officers conducted a reversal in the District 5 area, arresting 10 sex buyers in the process. Following both operations, the names of all of the individuals arrested were released to the public; an SAPD representative also reported that officers had received complaints from people living in the area about prostitution, encouraging the department to conduct the stings. In May 2018, a reverse sting carried out by the San Antonio Police Department resulted in the arrest of six men suspected of hiring prostitutes. The operation consisted of female undercover SAPD officers approaching men in their vehicles, in the area of Guadalupe Street and S. Picoso on the city’s west side, according to SAPD records.
In January 2015, a john school program began operating in San Antonio. The program is delivered by a faith-based organization, Embassy of Hope, and the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County District Attorney’s Office are key partners in its design and utilization. The program is delivered as an 8-hour class or as multiple counseling sessions.
In November 2015, the SAPD announced that it would begin posting the names and photos of individuals arrested for attempting to purchase commercial sex acts to the department’s Facebook page. Five offenders were included in a “first post,” displayed the week of November 22nd. Along with the men’s identities, the post included the following warning to other would-be sex buyers:
“Why risk embarrassment, possible job loss, arrests, STD’s and the victimization of women. Nobody wins.”
Key Partners
Key Sources
- Street-Level Reverse Stings with Shaming:
- “Sex Sting Hits ‘Johns’ in Park”, San Antonio Express-News, March 28 1991.
- “OLD TRICKS: Man, 76, Arrested in Anti-Prostitution Sweep, Calls Mother”, San Antonio Express-News, September 14 1991.
- “JOHNS S.A. Hooker Sting Nets 12 Near Park”, San Antonio Express-News, March 13 1992.
- “Prostitution Sting Raises Questions; Police Collar 9 Suspects Using an Express-News Classified Ad”, San Antonio Express-News, March 1 2005.
- “SAPD Cop Charged in Prostitution Sting”, San Antonio Express-News, October 1 2005.
- “Prostitution Sting”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, February 1 2007.
- “31 Are Nabbed during West Side Prostitution Sting”, San Antonio Express-News, August 15 2010.
- “EXCLUSIVE: Prostitution Sting Nabs Dozens of Men”, FOX/KABB-TV 29, October 2010.
- “EXCLUSIVE: Prostitution Sting Brings Down Alleged S.A. Johns”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, February 24 2011.
- “Undercover Vice Unit Targets South-Side Johns in ‘Tricky’ Sting”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, June 30 2011.
- “64 Arrested in San Antonio for Soliciting Prostitution in Operation ‘Polar Bexar'”, News Release, U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), September 28 2012.
- “SAPD Sting Targets South-Side Prostitution”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, November 14 2012.
- “Police Crackdown on Prostitution Proves Successful”, NBC/WOAI-TV 4, December 5 2012.
- “Dozens Arrested in Human Trafficking, Prostitution Sting”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, January 23 2013.
- “Prostitution Sting Nets Teacher, Sheriff’s Employee”, San Antonio Express-News, January 23 2013.
- “Ten Men Arrested, Charged with Solicitation of Prostitution”, NBC/WOAI-TV 4, February 28 2013.
- “District 5 Cracking Down on Prostitution”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, July 25 2014.
- “‘Johns’ Arrested in Prostitution Sting”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, July 25 2014.
- “SAPD Targeting Prostitution on the City’s West Side”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, July 25 2014.
- “The Hooker Is a Cop”, NBC/WOAI-TV 4, July 26 2014.
- “Men Nabbed in Prostitution Sting ID’d”, San Antonio Express-News, July 26 2014.
- “City Employee Arrested during Prostitution Sting Is Tejano Star’s Husband”, San Antonio Express-News, July 30 2014.
- “SAPD Officials Said Wednesday’s Operation Focused on Men, ‘the Demand’ for Prostitutes,” San Antonio Express-News, June 10 2015.
- “San Antonio Police Arrest 16 Suspected ‘Johns’ in Undercover Prostitution Sting,” San Antonio Express-News, November 25 2015.
- https://www.ksat.com/news/sapd-nabs-6-in-west-side-prostitution-sting (2018)
- https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/crime/article/Police-6-suspects-arrested-in-San-Antonio (2018)
- Web-Based Reverse Stings with Shaming:
- “Constables: Houston Lawyer Among Those Arrested in Craigslist Prostitution Sting”, CBS/KHOU-TV 11, October 28 2011.
- “Police: S.A. Firefighter Solicited Undercover Officer for Prostitution”, San Antonio Express-News, February 18 2014.
- “SAPD Targets Prostitution, Posts Arrests Online,” ABC/KSAT-TV 12, May 28 2015.
- Shaming:
- SOAP Orders:
- Neighborhood Action:
- John School:
- Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:
- “A Prostitute Who Arranged for Her 12-Year-Old Niece to…”, San Antonio Express-News, November 9 1990.
- “Cousin Gets 10 Years for Selling Girl for Drugs”, San Antonio Express-News, January 29 1991.
- “Man Condemned for Killing San Antonio Guard Executed”, Victoria Advocate, June 27 2001.
- “Nurse, 29, Charged in Sex-Trafficking of Children”, San Antonio Express-News, June 19 2007.
- “San Antonio Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Sex-Trafficking Ring”, Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice, February 27 2008.
- “Man Gets 10 Years for Sex Trafficking”, San Antonio Express-News, March 13 2008.
- “Study Calls for More Help for Young Sex Trade Victims”, San Antonio Express-News, July 1 2008.
- “S.A. Mom Held Without Bail in Child Sex Sale Plot”, Houston Chronicle, August 26 2008.
- “Grim Story of S.A. Sex Trade”, San Antonio Express-News, June 11 2009.
- “S.A. Girl Testifies Boyfriend Forced Her into Prostitution”, San Antonio Express-News, October 1 2009.
- “Former Spurs Player Arrested in Probe of Child Sex Trafficking Ring”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, February 26 2010.
- “Ex-Spur Robertson Linked to Sex Ring”, San Antonio Express-News, February 27 2010.
- “Alleged Sex-Trade Victim Vanishes”, San Antonio Express-News, March 17 2010.
- “Police: S.A. Man Assaults Teen then Lures Her into Prostitution”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, October 20 2010.
- “Prosecutors Say Sex with Teen Was Part of Business”, San Antonio Express-News, December 8 2010.
- “Moreno Gets Life for Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault of 13-Year-Old Girl”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, December 10 2010.
- “SAPD: Murder Suspect Arrested on Child Sex Trafficking Charges”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, October 13 2011.
- “Six Men Are Accused in Sexual Abuse of Girl over More than 2 Years; Investigators Say Child Was Turned into Prostitute”, San Antonio Express-News, November 2 2011.
- “Police: San Antonio Prostitutes Rat Out Pimps, 2 Suspects Arrested”, CBS/KHOU-TV 11, July 25 2012.
- “SAPD: Gangs Recruiting Young Prostitutes Over Facebook”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, September 25 2012.
- “Prosecutor Says Pimping of Teenager Led to Murder; 12 Life Sentences Possible in Abuse of Teen Runaway”, San Antonio Express-News, September 27 2012.
- “S.A. Murder Trial Update: Teen Says She Was Used to Lure in Victim”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, September 27 2012.
- “Teenage Girl’s Pimp Guilty of Murder ; He’s Also Convicted on 9 Other Counts”, San Antonio Express-News, October 4 2012.
- “Prostitution Case Lands Man in Jail”, San Antonio Express-News, February 5 2013.
- “San Antonio Men Arrested in Online Teen Prostitution Sting”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, February 5 2013.
- “Pimp Arrested for Human Trafficking and Forced Prostitution of 16-Year-Old Girl”, San Antonio Examiner, February 15 2013.
- “Metro Briefs”, San Antonio Express-News, March 16 2013.
- “S.A. Woman Accused of Luring Teen into World of Online Prostitution”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, March 21 2013.
- “Woman Is Charged in Prostitution Case”, San Antonio Express-News, March 22 2013.
- “4 Arrested, 1 Rescued in S.A. in Sex Traffic Sweep; 150 Alleged Pimps Are Rounded Up Nationally”, San Antonio Express-News, July 30 2013.
- “Man Arrested in Connection to Online Prostitution Ring, Police Say”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, December 13 2013.
- “Prosecution Rises for Sex Trafficking; Officials Stepping Up Battle”, San Antonio Express-News, December 26 2013.
- “Man Accused of 12-Year-Old’s Prostitution Takes Plea”, San Antonio Express-News, January 14 2014.
- “San Antonio Headlines: Woman Admits Sex Trafficking, HipDingo Owner Charged”, San Antonio Examiner, March 14 2014.
- “Army Official Charged with Sex Trafficking in SA; Lt. Col. Raymond Valas Arrested Following Sex Trafficking Sting Bust”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, May 30 2014.
- “Assault Call Leads to Human Trafficking Arrest”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, June 6 2014.
- “Felon Convicted of Child Trafficking”, San Antonio Express-News, June 20 2014.
- “Man Gets Life in Human Trafficking Case”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, July 11 2014.
- “Jury Convicts San Antonio Man for Sex Trafficking of Minors”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, July 23 2014.
- “SA Man Arrested in Nationwide Prostitution Sting,” ABC/KSAT-TV 12, August 13 2014.
- “SA Woman Accused of Forcing Child into Prostitution, Trafficking”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, August 27 2014.
- “SA Councilwoman Asks for More Resources in Fighting Human Trafficking”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, October 1 2014.
- “Affidavit: 2 Men Kidnap Woman for Prostitution; Woman Escapes, Men Arrested”, ABC/KSAT-TV 12, October 3 2014.
- “Prostitute Testifies against ‘Pimp’; Dukes Faces Human-Trafficking Charges,” ABC/KSAT-TV 12, October 9 2014.
- “After Courtroom Outbursts, Pimp Refuses to Attend Trial,” San Antonio Express-News, October 10 2014.
- “Man Found Guilty of Forcing Women into Prostitution,” CBS/KIKK-AM 650, October 15 2014.
- “Lawyer: Lt. Col. Accused in Sex Trafficking Case Was Working on War College Thesis,” San Antonio Express-News, October 16 2014.
- “Police: Texas Couple Bought Teen for $50, Forced Her into Prostitution,” NBC/KETK-TV 56, November 26 2014.
- “Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Teenage Girls; Teens from Texas Forced into Prostitution,” New Orleans Advocate, May 22 2015.
- “Two Men Arrested, Accused of Forcing Woman into Prostitution,” CBS/KENS-TV 5, June 3 2015.
- “Capital Murder Defendant Chooses Not to Sit in on His Own Trial,” San Antonio Express-News, September 15 2015.
- “San Antonio Couple Sexually Assaulted Underage Girl, Sold Her to Another Couple for $4G: Cops,” New York Daily News, December 20 2015.
- “San Antonio Man Forced Girl, 15, into Prostitution, Supplied Her with Meth,” NBC/KCEN-TV 9, February 3 2016.
- “Ex-Judson ISD Employee Accused of Trafficking Homeless Underage Prostitute,” San Antonio Express-News, February 5 2016.
- https://www.ksat.com/news/man-forced-girls-runaways-into-prostitution-bcso-says (2018)
- Background on Prostitution in the Area:
- “Prostitution”, David C. Humphrey, Handbook of Texas, Texas State Historical Association.
- “BROADWAY: Hookers’ Clients May Face a Camera”, San Antonio Express-News, March 7 1992.
- “Prostitution Ring ‘Wiped Out’ Here”, San Antonio Express-News, June 19 1993.
- “SAPD Compiling List of Internet Sex Clients”, San Antonio Express-News, December 7 1996.
- “New Statute Gets Tough on Prostitution; San Antonio Police Can Now Issue Citations for Loitering”, San Antonio Express-News, August 21 1998.
- “Man Admits Vice Business; 3 Sites Linked to Prostitution”, San Antonio Express-News, February 1 2002.
- “Prostitution Sting Leads to Burglary Death; Suspect Shot after Decoy Cop Vehicle Broken Into”, San Antonio Express-News, September 4 2003.
- “Then & Now: Prostitution in the City”, San Antonio Express-News, August 13 2006.
- “West Side Neighbors Fed Up with Crime Demand Action”, NBC/WOAI-TV 4, September 10 2012.
- “Lawyer Running for Judge Accused of Compelling Prostitution; Clients Cite Sex in Exchange for Money or Legal Services,” San Antonio Express-News, November 18 2015.
- “Police Crack down on Austin Highway Motels,” NBC/WOAI-TV 4, March 16 2016.
- Documented Violence Against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:
- “San Antonio Man Gets 30 Years for Killing Prostitute”, San Antonio Express-News, June 11 1991.
- “Man Found Dead on I-35 Ramp Was HIV-Infected Prostitute, AIDS Group Says”, San Antonio Express-News, December 19 1991.
- “S.A. Prostitute Becomes Second Slashing Victim”, San Antonio Express-News, October 17 1992.
- “‘Dating Service’ Deadly for Mom; Cash-Strapped Woman Working Escort Job Is Slain in Motel Room”, San Antonio Express-News, December 21 2003.
- “Cops Arrest Man, 35, on Sex Assault Charge”, San Antonio Express-News, February 7 2006.
- “Question of Self-Defense Is Key as Murder Trial Opens”, San Antonio Express-News, October 4 2007.
- “Sting Targets Client-Robbing Prostitutes”, San Antonio Express-News, July 18 2009.
- “Man Gets Life for Killing Grandmother, Prostitute”, San Antonio Express-News, September 17 2010.
- “SAPD: Murder Suspect Arrested on Child Sex Trafficking Charges”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, October 13 2011.
- “S.A. Murder Trial Update: Teen Says She Was Used to Lure in Victim”, CBS/KENS-TV 5, September 27 2012.
- “Teenage Girl’s Pimp Guilty of Murder ; He’s Also Convicted on 9 Other Counts”, San Antonio Express-News, October 4 2012.
- “Texas Prostitute’s Jilted Killer Acquitted, Was Trying to ‘Retrieve Stolen Property’ Says Jury”, New York Daily News, June 3 2013.
- “Jury Acquits Escort Shooter”, San Antonio Express-News, June 8 2013.
- “Jury Acquits Man in Prostitute Knife Attack Case”, San Antonio Express-News, February 4 2014.
- “Jury Believes Man, Not Prostitute”, San Antonio Express-News, February 5 2014.
- “SAPD: DNA Links Man to Knifepoint Rape”, San Antonio Express-News, April 24 2014.
- “A Man Is in Jail Facing Charges in Connection with a Prostitution and Kidnapping Case”, CBS/KZTV-TV 10, August 5 2014.
- “Civil Rights: Woman who Had Miscarriage Sues SAPD, City,” San Antonio Current, October 8 2014.
- “After Courtroom Outbursts, Pimp Refuses to Attend Trial,” San Antonio Express-News, October 10 2014.
- “Capital Murder Defendant Chooses Not to Sit in on His Own Trial,” San Antonio Express-News, September 15 2015.
- “San Antonio Pimp Guilty in Murder of Former Prostitute,” San Antonio Express-News, September 23 2015.
State | Texas |
Type | City |
Population | 1555370 |
Location |
Comments are closed.