Arlington Police arrest 4 more managers in ‘Chicas Locas’ sex trafficking investigation
More arrested in Arlington sex trafficking case
Arlington police announced more arrests in a months-long sex trafficking investigation. Detectives said the Chica Locas gentleman's club was a front for prostitution and drug deals.
ARLINGTON, Texas - Detectives have arrested four additional managers and filed new organized crime charges in connection with a months-long investigation into a sex trafficking ring operating out of a local adult entertainment club, police said Wednesday.
Arlington sex trafficking ring investigation
25-year-old Oziel Ramos, 32-year-old Aaron Perez, 40-year-old Ariel Tapia, 37-year-old Frank Budai, 30-year-old Jonathon Rivera, 32-year-old Allan Salcido, 27-year-old Trevor Brossette (Source: Arlington Police Department)
What we know:
The arrests follow "Operation Safe Stage," a massive joint tactical raid conducted in October at Chicas Locas on Majesty Drive. Since the initial raid, investigators with the Arlington Police Department’s Human Exploitation & Trafficking (HEAT) Unit have reviewed seized evidence and interviewed witnesses to map out what they describe as a criminal enterprise.
According to investigators, employees at the club performed illegal sex acts on patrons in exchange for money, with a portion of the proceeds being paid directly to the club’s management.
Arlington strip club raid leads to human trafficking, drug arrests
Four people were arrested after Arlington police raided an adult entertainment business as part of a months-long human trafficking investigation.
Initially charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution, managers Oziel Ramos, 25, and Ariel Tapia, 40, now face additional counts of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Police also announced the arrests of four more managers on similar charges:
- Frank Budai, 37, arrested Dec. 8 by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.
- Trevor Brossette, 27, arrested Dec. 16 by Arlington police.
- Jonathon Rivera, 30, arrested Nov. 14 by Arlington police.
- Allan Salcido, 32, arrested Nov. 27 by the Denton County Sheriff’s Office.
The expanded investigation also targeted narcotics sales allegedly occurring within the business. Undercover officers identified 32-year-old Aaron Perez as a dealer operating out of the club. Police said Perez sold illegal drugs to undercover detectives at the venue on multiple occasions. He was arrested Oct. 24 on three counts of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance.
The October raid involved more than a dozen local and state agencies, including the Tarrant County Human Trafficking Task Force and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). During the initial sweep, officers seized nearly $13,000 in cash and various pieces of digital evidence.
What they're saying:
"Human trafficking has no place in Tarrant County," Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said following the initial phase of the operation. "We will use every resource available to go after those who commit this heinous crime."
While criminal prosecutions move forward, the city is also exploring civil enforcement actions against Chicas Locas, which could include the permanent closure of the business.
Sgt. Richard Coleman spoke on the expanded operation after the additional arrests were announced.
"They identified several other individuals who were employees of club who were part of management, who also were involved in the prostitution that was taking place," Sgt. Coleman said. "Four of those individuals are management of the company and were engaged in the aggravated promotion of prostitution and organized crime and one individual was the guy who was selling drugs at the location."
"Some of the individuals arrested were using force to force individuals to take place in activities against their will. We received information that these individuals who were employees of the club were engaging in these activities and the money they were earning was going back to the management," Coleman continued.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Source: Information in this article is from the Arlington Police Department.