Texas Sting: Human Trafficking Operations Lead to Multiple Arrests in West Texas
During January 2024, as part of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) conducted operations in the West Texas Region to target individuals involved in human trafficking. The collaborative effort involved multiple agencies, including DPS’ CID, DPS Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism, Texas Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and various local law enforcement agencies.
DPS West Texas Regional Director Jose Sanchez stated, “This was a very successful operation due to the outstanding collaboration of multiple agencies working towards combating human trafficking. Human trafficking is on the rise, and we need the community’s assistance in reporting human trafficking; if you see something, please say something.”
As a result of these operations, numerous individuals were arrested for solicitation of prostitution, a state jail felony. The arrested individuals and their respective locations are as follows:
- Sylvester Cherry, 53 – San Angelo, TX
- Hashiem Phillips, 41 – Midland, TX
- Gilberto Hernandez, 30 – Midland, TX
- Matthew Mabry, 31 – Marshall, TX
- Mart Vaughn, 45 – Mutual, OK
- Jason Soliz, 48 – Anson, TX
- Alex Garcia, 30 – Midland, TX
- Gary Davis, 54 – Artesia, NM
- Jesus Baron, 55 – El Paso, TX
- Justo Munoz Jr, 28 – Odessa, TX
- Russell Pharris Jr, 54 – Odessa, TX
- Brandon Phillips, 48 – Pyote, TX
- David Walley, 37 – Liberty, TX
- John Nanez, 25 – San Antonio, TX
- Ascary Parra, 41 – Odessa, TX
- Jacob Davis, 29 – Augustine, TX
- Christopher Hammons, 36 – Houston, TX
- Shane Vincent, 50 – Elton, LA
- James Flint, 39 – Longview, TX
- Andrew Berting, 38 – Midland, TX
- Andrew Molinar, 31 – Odessa, TX
- Luis Valenzuela, 23 – Woodward, OK
- Angel Ramos, 23 – Midland, TX
- William Caudill, 41 – Elgin, TX
- Ray Nunez, 45 – Midland, TX
- Erik White, 44 – Midland, TX
- Agapito Avalos, 49 – Lytle, TX
- Dakota Walker, 28 – Delhi, LA
- Newell Johnston, 45 – Odessa, TX
- Jaye Saenz, 19 – Midland, TX
- Izavier West, 26 – Shreveport, LA
- Caleb Huntley, 28 – Midland, TX
- Raymond Mendoza, 51 – Midland, TX
- Ricardo Venzor, 54 – Fort Worth, TX
- Michael Brown, 52 – Odessa, TX
- Ryan Montes, 34 – Midland, TX
- John Jasso, 39 – Midland, TX
- Joshua Moore, 36 – Andrews, TX
- Yasser Antonio Albornoz, 28 – El Paso, TX
- Charles Anthony Calixte, 38 – El Paso, TX
- Tyrick Javion Ricks, 20 – Columbus, GA
- Feliciano Lisandro Galvan, 25 – Socorro, TX
- Guillero Gomez, 44 – El Paso, TX
- Jose Antonio Gutierrez, 38 – El Paso, TX
- Fernando Aguilar, 40 – El Paso, TX
- Steven Dion Howard, 48 – El Paso, TX
- Javier De La Rosa, 33 – Greeley, CO
- Princewill Nwanokwai Arinzechukwi, 40 – San Angelo, TX
- Marquis Keyon Lashawn Adams, 35 – San Angelo, TX
- Aaron Paul Nitsch, 35 – San Angelo, TX
- Heinrich Braun Weibe, 36 – Seminole, TX
- Denzel Tucker Hendricks Sr, 32 – Maumelle, AR
- Michael Anthony Garcia, 34 – San Diego, TX
One individual, Isreal Segura, 35, from Lubbock, TX, was arrested for prostitution, a Class B Misdemeanor.
Additionally, DPS Special Agents collaborated with Homeland Security Investigations, the Odessa Police Department, and the Midland Police Department on a Human Trafficking Operation targeting massage parlors in Midland County. The operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects for prostitution, a Class B Misdemeanor, and one suspect for operating without a massage license, also a Class B Misdemeanor. The arrested suspects and their locations are as follows:
Prostitution:
- Gui Gui Li, 58 – California
- Liqing Du, 54 – California
- Chongmei Wei, 59 – California
- Tianrong Xiao, 47 – Texas
Operating Without a Massage License:
- Wen Qin, 53 – California
These investigations highlight the partnership between federal, local and state law enforcement partners working together to combat human trafficking. If you are a victim of human trafficking or have information about this type of criminal activity, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888. Remember, you can also report suspicious behavior through the iWatch Texas program via the mobile app, online at www.iwatchtx.org or by calling 1-844-643-2251.
