Child Sex Trafficker Captured, Victim Rescued in Houston

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced the arrest of Deveon Dwayne Byrd for sex trafficking minors and the successful recovery of a 17-year-old victim in Houston.

“The sex trafficking of minors is one of the most heinous and disgusting crimes imaginable, and I will continue to use the full force of my office to put these sick predators behind bars,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I commend the brave work by our Human Trafficking Unit and law enforcement partners who helped rescue this young victim. Texas will not tolerate those who prey on children and exploit the innocent.”

On May 7, 2025, the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Human Trafficking Unit arrested Deveon Dwayne Byrd on charges of Compelling Prostitution and Trafficking of Persons under the age of 18. The arrest was the culmination of a proactive investigation initiated by the OAG Human Trafficking Unit, which identified online sex service advertisements and suspected the involvement of an underage female victim.

After determining the victim’s location in Houston, the OAG Human Trafficking Unit, in collaboration with the OAG Fugitive Apprehension Unit, the Department of Public Safety Human Trafficking Unit, and the Houston Police Department, successfully rescued the underage victim from a Houston hotel in the 9000 block of Westheimer Avenue. Deveon Byrd was apprehended at the scene and subsequently booked into the Harris County Jail.

The Attorney General Paxton’s Human Trafficking Unit is continuing to investigate the case in conjunction with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.