MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas — The McLennan Sheriff's Office, with the help of Homeland Security, made 18 arrests in a human trafficking bust Thursday.
The McLennan County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division posted on their Facebook page that they found preditors that are and were stalking the community's children.
The Sheriff’s Office issued arrest warrants for 20 people, resulting in the arrest of 18, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations Austin, the Lonestar Fugitive Task Force, the Freestone County Sheriff’s office under Sheriff Jeremy Shipley, the Mississippi State Police, and the Gulfport Police Dept.
At this time, one person is out of state and is cooperating, returning to Texas, and one is at large.
Detective Scaramucci began an online operation in April that targeted men who attempted to engage in commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Throughout the operation, men either solicited paid sex from children or enticed children to engage in the manufacturing and distribution of child pornography.
The acts that were attempted against children are the grooming behaviors seen in the recruitment of children with causes them to fall victim to sexual crimes, including human trafficking, according to the McLennan Sheriff's Office.
"We want this to be a reminder to parents, that with shelter in place orders, and schools being closed due to COVID, children are on their digital devices more than ever. Those seeking to exploit them are as well. Parents need to take the time to monitor their children’s social media, as well as who they are talking to," The Facebook post said.
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