In late February, the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Human Trafficking Unit, in collaboration with their partner organization, The Net, executed a sex trafficking demand suppression operation. Over the course of two days, 21 individuals were apprehended and charged with Solicitation of Prostitution, a state jail felony.
Notably, among the arrested were a Tarrant County employee, alongside two individuals employed by the Army Corps of Engineers and Texas Health Resources.
Sheriff Bill Waybourn remarked, "Unfortunately, the demand is still high for sex trafficking. Those out there considering the purchase of a sex slave need to know it is not if, but when we catch you. We are looking for you."
The NET's Men Against Sexual Exploitation (MASE) program plays a pivotal role in combating sex trafficking at its roots by curbing demand through buyer engagement and community education. The program extends support to individuals grappling with addictions to pornography and sex, particularly those involved in the purchase of sex. Following the initial apprehension, the arrested suspects were offered the opportunity to engage with the program.
