On Wednesday evening, May 17, a joint Human Trafficking Operation was conducted in Beaumont and seven were arrested. This is the first FBI led online covert initiative in the Beaumont area.
The most common form of human trafficking detected by national authorities is trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide, including right here in Southeast Texas.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, along with FBI Beaumont and Beaumont PD, conducted an online solicitation investigation where individuals were searching online sex sites and phone apps for males and females, some underage, to engage in sexual relations.
These seven individuals showed up at the agreed upon motel rooms where they were subsequently arrested. Those arrested include 27 year old Luke Cameron, 35 year old Christopher Honkomp of Orange, 46 year old Derrick Waldon, 61 year old Kyle Sterling, 24 year old Jerome Harmon, 36 year old Tyler Berry. They were each charged with Solicitation of Prostitution. Sterling and Honkomp were additionally charged with Solicitation of a minor.
Texas Penal Code 43.021
(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly offers or agrees to pay a fee to another person for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with that person or another.(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a state jail felony, except that the offense is:(1) a felony of the third degree if the actor has previously been convicted of an offense under Subsection (a) or under Section 43.02(b), as that law existed before September 1, 2021; or(2) a felony of the second degree if the person with whom the actor agrees to engage in sexual conduct is:(A) younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the time of the offense;(B) represented to the actor as being younger than 18 years of age; or(C) believed by the actor to be younger than 18 years of age.
“FBI Beaumont was proud to lead its first-ever federal online covert initiative alongside our partners at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Beaumont Police Department,” said FBI Beaumont Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Nicole Sinegar. “Protecting our East Texas community from subjects seeking to harm children is a top priority for our office. We look forward to spearheading more operations to guard our neighbors from sexual predators.”
“Your local, state and federal law enforcement agencies will continue such joint operations in hopes of saving those individuals that are being victimized” according to Sheriff Zena Stephens.
If you suspect human trafficking, please report it immediately to the local law enforcement agency or contact Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas by calling 409-833-TIPS (8477), log onto www.833tips.com, or download the P3 app. You will not be asked your name and you could be eligible for a cash reward.
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