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10 massage spas in Houston area suspected of human trafficking will be closed, owner agrees to quit industry
Read full article: 10 massage spas in Houston area suspected of human trafficking will be closed, owner agrees to quit industryInvestigators said Yu Sheng Chen has agreed to close 10 massage establishments he owns and quit the industry in Texas.
Houston pimp who went by the name ‘Pressure’ sent to prison for trafficking teen along Bissonnet
Read full article: Houston pimp who went by the name ‘Pressure’ sent to prison for trafficking teen along BissonnetProsecutors have sentenced a pimp accused of trafficking a teenage girl along the Bissonnet track to more than 30 years in prison.
3 arrests in connection to prostitution investigation at Friendswood massage parlors
Read full article: 3 arrests in connection to prostitution investigation at Friendswood massage parlorsFriendswood police say three woman have been arrested in connection to an investigation into illegal activities at massage parlors.
Instagram account helps solve prostitution, assault case of Nebraska woman involving Houston ‘self-proclaimed pimp’
Read full article: Instagram account helps solve prostitution, assault case of Nebraska woman involving Houston ‘self-proclaimed pimp’Lyndon Wilburn, 26, is charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution, drug possession, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. His total bond is set at $210,000.
Klein ISD employee who alerted school of sex trafficking a year before cosmetology teacher’s arrest talks only to KPRC 2
Read full article: Klein ISD employee who alerted school of sex trafficking a year before cosmetology teacher’s arrest talks only to KPRC 2Kedria Grisgby 42, and her son, Roger Magee, 21, were involved in a sex trafficking ring that included at least three teen girls. Grigsby reportedly taught Cosmetology at Klein Cain High School, is set to appear in court Monday.
“The school district has a duty to ensure their school is safe, and it sounds like they fell short of that goal.”
Read full article: “The school district has a duty to ensure their school is safe, and it sounds like they fell short of that goal.”Former school employee alerted school to teacher’s involvement in sex trafficking students.
10 people found inside Chambers County home; Officials investigating as possible human trafficking
Read full article: 10 people found inside Chambers County home; Officials investigating as possible human traffickingLaw enforcement says 10 people, believed to be in the country illegally, were found inside a Chambers County home as deputies executed a search warrant Thursday.
‘It was gut wrenching because I stared him down’: Trafficking victim finally faces attacker
Read full article: ‘It was gut wrenching because I stared him down’: Trafficking victim finally faces attackerTrafficked at age 10, Rhonda Kuykendall was flown from Houston to Lubbock to be sexually abused. KPRC's Zach Lashway talked with Kuykendall about facing her abuser decades later.
WATCH LIVE: Houston police provide tips to combat human trafficking, ways community can help survivors
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Houston police provide tips to combat human trafficking, ways community can help survivorsJanuary is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and officers with the Houston Police Department provided tips on how to prevent and combat human trafficking.
NRG Park partners with nonprofit to combat human trafficking during 2024 CFP National Championship
Read full article: NRG Park partners with nonprofit to combat human trafficking during 2024 CFP National ChampionshipNRG Park is partnering with the nonprofit No Trafficking Zone to combat human trafficking during the 2024 CFP National Championship weekend in Houston.
Why do large sporting events in Houston bring an increase in human trafficking cases?
Read full article: Why do large sporting events in Houston bring an increase in human trafficking cases?Law enforcement officials are ramping up their vigilance this weekend ahead of the 2024 National Football Championship taking place in Houston.
5 ways to help spot human trafficking victims
Read full article: 5 ways to help spot human trafficking victimsWhile most are here for the big game, KPRC 2 Investigates reveals a dark underside that comes with a championship game. Women and children sold for sex or forced labor. It’s called human trafficking.
Does Houston have a sex trafficking problem? Exploring what is being done to combat prostitution in the Houston area
Read full article: Does Houston have a sex trafficking problem? Exploring what is being done to combat prostitution in the Houston areaA massive crackdown on prostitution is causing the streets to adjust. We'll show you how law enforcement is moving with them.
Self-proclaimed ‘King of Bissonnet’ convicted of sex trafficking multiple women, beating them
Read full article: Self-proclaimed ‘King of Bissonnet’ convicted of sex trafficking multiple women, beating themA federal jury has convicted a 47-year-old Houston man of sex trafficking four women by means of force and of taking three women across state lines to engage in prostitution, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
UH Hobby School research highlights community importance, human trafficking in Houston, and more on Houston Newsmakers
Read full article: UH Hobby School research highlights community importance, human trafficking in Houston, and more on Houston NewsmakersHost Khambrel Marshall sits down with the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to identify the importance of Hispanics in our community.
31 Harris County runaway teenagers at risk for human trafficking located through special operation
Read full article: 31 Harris County runaway teenagers at risk for human trafficking located through special operationThirty-one runaway children and teenagers who were at risk for human trafficking were found in August through a special Harris County Sheriff’s Office operation.
Houston man convicted for sex trafficking 15-year-old allegedly used ‘meth, a gun, and intimidation’ to control victim
Read full article: Houston man convicted for sex trafficking 15-year-old allegedly used ‘meth, a gun, and intimidation’ to control victimA 31-year-old Houston man has been found guilty of trafficking a 15-year-old girl for commercial sex by using force, fraud or coercion, the United States Department of Justice announced Monday.
Man jailed in 2022 on sexual assault, family violence charges now facing 6 counts of aggravated sexual assault
Read full article: Man jailed in 2022 on sexual assault, family violence charges now facing 6 counts of aggravated sexual assaultThe 40-year-old man is now facing six counts of aggravated sexual assault stemming from an investigation into attacks on three women.
3 men sentenced for smuggling women from Cuba into the US, making them work in Houston-area strip clubs
Read full article: 3 men sentenced for smuggling women from Cuba into the US, making them work in Houston-area strip clubsThree men were sentenced to prison for smuggling women into the United States from Cuba and making them work in Houston-area strip clubs, the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Bissonnet Track: Inside its shadowy history, efforts aimed at curbing prostitution, sex trafficking in notorious area
Read full article: Bissonnet Track: Inside its shadowy history, efforts aimed at curbing prostitution, sex trafficking in notorious areaThe so-called Bissonnet Track is in the news consistently for its ties to prostitution, human trafficking and more.
Woman charged after prostitution investigation at several massage parlors, foot spas around Harris County
Read full article: Woman charged after prostitution investigation at several massage parlors, foot spas around Harris CountyA 53-year-old Crosby woman was arrested following an investigation into prostitution occurring at several so-called massage parlors and foot spas in the northwest and southeast parts of the Houston area.
‘Human trafficking is going to happen’: The darker side of sporting events ahead of the Final Four
Read full article: ‘Human trafficking is going to happen’: The darker side of sporting events ahead of the Final FourIn the first two months of 2023, Houston police made 298 arrests dealing with prostitution, purchasing prostitution, and human trafficking. With hundreds of thousands of fans expected in the Bayou City through Monday during the NCAA Final Four, advocates and law enforcement are gearing up for human trafficking cases.
Live phone bank: KPRC, Houston Area Women’s Center taking calls about domestic violence, human trafficking
Read full article: Live phone bank: KPRC, Houston Area Women’s Center taking calls about domestic violence, human traffickingKPRC 2 and our community partners at Energy Transfer and Houston Christian University are proud to host a phone bank with volunteers from Houston Area Women’s Center today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Splendora police raise concerns over release of immigrants tied to smuggling investigation
Read full article: Splendora police raise concerns over release of immigrants tied to smuggling investigationPolice in the Montgomery County town of Splendora are asking for better federal oversight of immigrants who are believed to have been smuggled into the United States. The concern comes after police said they recently had to release a group of immigrants they believe are in the country illegally.
Combatting human trafficking in Houston: University of St. Thomas president to announce collaboration with high school, college students
Read full article: Combatting human trafficking in Houston: University of St. Thomas president to announce collaboration with high school, college studentsThe University of St. Thomas announced an anti-trafficking collaboration with college and high school students in the communication department, according to a release.
23-year-old League City man sentenced for sexual exploitation of 15-year-old, DOJ says
Read full article: 23-year-old League City man sentenced for sexual exploitation of 15-year-old, DOJ saysA 23-year-old League City resident has been sentenced to serve 25 years in federal prison after releasing sex videos of a teen girl, who later died, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Murder suspect already out on bond among 30 busted in Montgomery County human trafficking sting, sheriff’s office says
Read full article: Murder suspect already out on bond among 30 busted in Montgomery County human trafficking sting, sheriff’s office saysA murder suspect who is currently out on bond was swept up in a human trafficking and prostitution sting in Montgomery County, the sheriff’s office said.
26-year-old Houston man sentenced to 15 years for sex trafficking teenage girls: DOJ
Read full article: 26-year-old Houston man sentenced to 15 years for sex trafficking teenage girls: DOJA man from the Houston area has been charged and sentenced to federal prison after he reportedly forced teenagers to engage in commercial sex, according to the Department of Justice.
Undercover operations tied to sex trafficking leads to over two dozen arrests, 17 victims rescued in Fort Bend County
Read full article: Undercover operations tied to sex trafficking leads to over two dozen arrests, 17 victims rescued in Fort Bend CountyFort Bend County law enforcement officials held a news conference Monday morning focused on a particular crime they say has proven to take place anywhere.
Bissonnet Track pimp ‘Lavish Lewis’ facing up to life in prison for sex trafficking, US Attorney says
Read full article: Bissonnet Track pimp ‘Lavish Lewis’ facing up to life in prison for sex trafficking, US Attorney saysA 46-year-old Houston man has been taken into custody on charges of sex trafficking and could possibly spend the rest of his life behind bars, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has announced.
Houston pimp sentenced to 28 years in prison for trafficking 15-year-old, DA says
Read full article: Houston pimp sentenced to 28 years in prison for trafficking 15-year-old, DA saysA pimp who forced a 15-year-old girl to have sex with strangers for money and also victimized a 13-year-old girl has been sentenced to 28 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Wednesday.
Liquor license revoked for north Houston’s ‘Vegas Nite Club’ after evidence of human trafficking, TABC says
Read full article: Liquor license revoked for north Houston’s ‘Vegas Nite Club’ after evidence of human trafficking, TABC saysA north Houston bar’s liquor permit has been revoked after investigators from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s Special Investigations Unit discovered a suspected brothel operating inside.
Four Disney employees arrested in Florida human trafficking, child predator sting
Read full article: Four Disney employees arrested in Florida human trafficking, child predator stingFour Disney employees were arrested in a massive undercover operation targeting human traffickers, child predators and prostitution.
41 arrested, including 5 pimps, in Fort Bend County human trafficking operations; 7 rescued, including juvenile, DA says
Read full article: 41 arrested, including 5 pimps, in Fort Bend County human trafficking operations; 7 rescued, including juvenile, DA saysNearly a dozen law enforcement agencies joined together in three sting operations across the Houston area, resulting in the arrest of 41 alleged perpetrators, including five pimps, and seven rescues - one being a juvenile, according to authorities.
Texas agency creates new donation fund to support youth survivors of human trafficking. Here’s how to help.
Read full article: Texas agency creates new donation fund to support youth survivors of human trafficking. Here’s how to help.The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has launched a donation account to help raise funds for youth survivors of human trafficking.
Fort Bend Co. Judge KP George partners with non-profit to help raise awareness to human trafficking
Read full article: Fort Bend Co. Judge KP George partners with non-profit to help raise awareness to human traffickingFort Bend County Judge KP George and the nonprofit organization Street Grace have partnered together to create the first Street Grace Youth Leadership Academy chapter in Fort Bend County.
4 Houston-area gang members accused of recruiting teens, forcing them to ‘engage in sex acts for money’, federal officials say
Read full article: 4 Houston-area gang members accused of recruiting teens, forcing them to ‘engage in sex acts for money’, federal officials sayFour Houston-area gang members have been indicted on human trafficking charges in connection with the prostitution of young teens, the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas said Tuesday.
Local nonprofit works with community leaders to educate families about child sex trafficking
Read full article: Local nonprofit works with community leaders to educate families about child sex traffickingThey are amazing, beautiful and photogenic. They consist of leaders, advocates, law enforcement and some survivors who all assembled at a recent photoshoot in The Woodlands to draw attention to an ongoing problem in our community.
‘They didn’t care about my past’: Local program gives hope and healing for human trafficking survivors
Read full article: ‘They didn’t care about my past’: Local program gives hope and healing for human trafficking survivorsAlong with Mexico and the Philippines, the United States is considered one of the worst places for human trafficking.
30 people arrested, 1 juvenile rescued during human trafficking sting in Fort Bend County
Read full article: 30 people arrested, 1 juvenile rescued during human trafficking sting in Fort Bend CountyFORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – The Fort Bend County District Attorney announced Wednesday that dozens of people had been arrested during a multi-day sting called Operation Cupid. According to the county, the DA’s office, in collaboration with the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance and other agencies, took 30 people into custody and rescued one juvenile victim during the three-day operation. County officials said “johns” create a demand for human trafficking, so the county is “focused on saving victims by following basic economics; removing the demand will reduce the supply.”“The success of this operation shows that we have much more work to do if we are to eradicate trafficking from Fort Bend County,” said Fort Bend County District Attorney, Brian Middleton. “As I have said before, we will be relentless in our pursuit of those responsible for human trafficking, including those who create the demand for trafficking victims in this county.”AdClick through the gallery above to see mug shots of those who were arrested during the sting.
Stronger Houston: Efforts underway to end human trafficking
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Efforts underway to end human traffickingHOUSTON – January is human trafficking prevention month. There were 1,080 reported cases of human trafficking connected to Texas in 2019, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. What is human trafficking? As a child, she said she was a victim of sex trafficking by her own father and her mother knew about it. AdMore information:National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org/Elijah Rising: www.elijahrising.org/United Against Human Trafficking: uaht.org/
Man accused of smuggling after 6 people found inside southwest Houston apartment
Read full article: Man accused of smuggling after 6 people found inside southwest Houston apartmentHOUSTON – A man is accused of smuggling Monday after police investigating a report of human trafficking found six people inside a southwest Houston apartment. Vidal Lopez, of the Houston Police Department, said officers found six men, between the ages of 20 and 25, inside the apartment. One person was charged with smuggling and operating a stash house, Lopez said. This incident is not connected to another human smuggling situation that was discovered at a home in southwest Houston last week, police said. Investigators said they believe the men arrived in Houston on Sunday.
Have you seen him? Dating app match beat woman, forced her into prostitution, authorities say
Read full article: Have you seen him? Dating app match beat woman, forced her into prostitution, authorities sayHOUSTON – Authorities are searching for a man they say attacked a woman he met on a dating app and then forced her into prostitution. The Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office is looking for Thurman Canton, 34. Investigators said a 23-year-old woman claimed she met Canton in May on an online dating app. When they met, authorities say he beat her up and then took her to a number of places and forced her to walk the streets soliciting sexual services. The Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office is looking for 34 year old Thurman Canton.
Officials give update after 46 arrests, 5 rescues in Fort Bend County during ‘massive’ human trafficking sting
Read full article: Officials give update after 46 arrests, 5 rescues in Fort Bend County during ‘massive’ human trafficking stingRICHMOND, Texas – Dozens of people involved in human trafficking in Fort Bend County have been arrested and charged in a sting, authorities said. Undercover officers were able to identify and arrest several “johns” and suspected human traffickers, according to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office. According to Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton, the sting took “huge strides in eliminating the sex-trafficking trade in our county” in just a few days. To anybody in our viewership who is engaged in human trafficking, we will find you and we will arrest you,” Middleton said Wednesday during a press conference. Officials said the number of people arrested in such a short amount of time shows just how serious the issue is in Fort Bend County.
City of Houston launches new initiative to combat human trafficking, domestic violence
Read full article: City of Houston launches new initiative to combat human trafficking, domestic violenceHOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a new initiative that will target human trafficking and domestic violence in Houston Monday afternoon. Turner said he is expanding the mayor’s office of human trafficking to include domestic violence. He said the office’s new name will be Mayor’s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, which will be led by Minal Davis. The mayor’s decision to add domestic violence to the office is due to both being forms of gender-based violence. The city of Houston became the first major city in the nation to pass a hotel ordinance that will require hotels to train employees on human trafficking and indicators of sex and labor trafficking, Turner said.
Woman charged with promotion of prostitution at a Houston-area massage spa
Read full article: Woman charged with promotion of prostitution at a Houston-area massage spaInvestigators in the Harris County Precinct 1 Human Trafficking Division have charged a woman with third-degree felony for promotion of prostitution at a Houston-area massage spa. Harris County Constable Precinct 1 shared the investigation was initiated following a citizen tip and complaint about prostitution at the spa. Deputies were able to rescue a 65-year-old woman living at G Massage who was recruited online from Los Angeles to engage in prostitution. According to officials, the trafficking victim had no friends or family in the United States, and nowhere else to stay. If you believe to have witnessed signs of human trafficking, call the human trafficking hotline at (832) 927-1650.
Female pimp sentenced to 50 years for trafficking 16-year-old, forcing her into prostitution in Houston area
Read full article: Female pimp sentenced to 50 years for trafficking 16-year-old, forcing her into prostitution in Houston areaHOUSTON – A woman, labeled as a pimp, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after forcing a 16-year-old girl into sex work for a month in the Houston area, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Friday. Marilyn Joy Wilkes, 27, pleaded guilty to human trafficking, sexual assault of a child under the age of 17 and compelling prostitution for a month over the 2018 Christmas holiday. The teen fled in a vehicle with her mother and officials say Wilkes followed them in a high-speed chase. Prosecutors convinced the judge to give Wilkes two 25-year prison sentences for compelling prostitution and human trafficking, officials said. Wilkes was also sentenced to the maximum of 20 years for the sexual assault of a child, which will run concurrently, prosecutors said.
32 arrested in 5-day human trafficking operation in east Harris County
Read full article: 32 arrested in 5-day human trafficking operation in east Harris CountyHOUSTON – More than 30 people were arrested as part of an undercover human trafficking operation in eastern Harris County last month. Chris Sandoval, of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office special investigations division, said that as many as 80 law enforcement agents from several different agencies were used each day of the five-day-long Operation Kickoff 2020, which ran from Jan. 21-25. Sandoval said the operation was focused on identifying and rescuing victims of human trafficking and arresting the people responsible for trafficking them. Investigators said a total of 32 people were arrested and three of them were 17 years old. Thirty-nine charges were filed against those arrested including 22 prostitution charges, four compelling prostitution charges, six promoting prostitution charges and various weapons and drug charges.
911 operator helps rescue human trafficking victim calling from Dominican Republic
Read full article: 911 operator helps rescue human trafficking victim calling from Dominican RepublicAn international phone call helped save a Green Bay, Wisconsin woman’s life as she was being held captive about 2,000 miles away. “I never expected this to happen,” said Tracy Ertl, the Communications Supervisor for Brown County Public Safety. It’s a rare occurrence that the Brown County Dispatch Center gets an international call. The voice on the other end was a Green Bay woman in danger, being held captive in the Dominican Republic. She told Tracy Ertl and her team at the dispatch center she'd been there since October, with only a few chances to escape and get help.
Cancer clusters cause concern as congresswoman leads town hall in search for answers
Read full article: Cancer clusters cause concern as congresswoman leads town hall in search for answersSunday on Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) talks about the challenge of finding answers for the community. Jackson Lee said that while she is back in her district, she is still connected to the House effort in Washington. Baylor St. Luke’s trains to identify human trafficking victimsKimberly Williams, Baylor St. Luke's Project Coordinator, Human Trafficking Initiative (KPRC)A recent study estimated that tens of thousands of victims of human trafficking are in Southeast Texas. Kimberly Williams is the project coordinator for the Human Trafficking Initiative at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and said they are often on the front lines of the human trafficking battle. Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall airs Sundays at 10:30 a.m.More informationU.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D) 18th Congressional DistrictKimberly Williams, Human Trafficking Project Coordinator, Baylor, St. Luke’s Medical Center
Houston music studio owner surrenders to human trafficking charges after nearly 2 months on the run
Read full article: Houston music studio owner surrenders to human trafficking charges after nearly 2 months on the runHOUSTON – The owner of a northwest Houston recording studio surrendered Wednesday on charges of sexual assault of a child, compelling prostitution and human trafficking. While Tyrone was arrested in November, when criminal charges were filed, Otis has been on the run since then. According to court documents, the girls claimed that after they were forced to prostitute and then abandoned by two other men, they couldn't identify. Court documents accused the brothers of forcing the girls to prostitute in exchange for food and sleep with customers of the studio. Both girls gave statements about what happened and picked Otis and Tyrone out of photo lineups, according to court documents.
Some viral human trafficking posts do more harm than good
Read full article: Some viral human trafficking posts do more harm than goodIn a post on their Facebook page, Sugar Land police denied the details of that post saying while a woman did report suspicious activity they never made the link to sex trafficking and had no other reports of sex trafficking in the area. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office also used its Facebook page to call reports of zip ties being used to mark the cars of potential victims for human trafficking in Conroe a hoax. The realityChaney said the posts perpetuate a Hollywood-version of how human trafficking occurs. The viral posts also typically include a statistic about Houston being the number one hub in the United States for human trafficking. Some advocates working to stop human trafficking warn against dismissing all of the viral posts.