TARRANT COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF News) – A joint operation among Tarrant County law enforcement and state officials led to the felony arrests of 115 men accused of sex trafficking.
Operation “Buyer Beware” took advantage of a new law that increases the penalties for those accused of sex trafficking from a misdemeanor to a felony.
The law, which was enacted on September 1, increased the punishment for those convicted of this crime from 180 days in jail to up to two years behind bars. Anyone caught repeating the offense would face even tougher charges.
Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn said the investigation focused more on the demand for sex trafficking.
He said the men arrested ranged in ages from 20 to 75 and attempting to solicit sex from both men and women, some of whom were underaged.
Investigators used online decoys to identify the suspects.
Operation “Buyer Beware” included Texas DPS, Fort Worth and Arlington Police, The Department of Homeland Security in addition to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office Deputies with the Human Trafficking Unit.
DPS is also working with other law enforcement agencies statewide on similar investigations.
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