Human trafficking investigation at Dallas strip club leads to 41 arrests

Human trafficking investigation at Dallas strip club

Federal agents and law enforcement partners raided Chicas Bonitas Cabaret in Dallas last week, targeting suspected human trafficking.

DALLAS - Federal agents and a coalition of law enforcement partners arrested 41 undocumented migrants and seized cash and records during a raid targeting suspected human trafficking and unlawful employment at a Dallas cabaret last week.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas executed a criminal search warrant at the Chicas Bonitas Cabaret on September 26. The operation was supported by federal, state, and local agencies, including the Dallas Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Left to right: Juan Carlos Salas Medina, Victor Manuel Manzano-Ramirez, Genaro Diaz-Perez, Gustavo Rojas-Garda, Julios Cesar Martinez (Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

Arrests and Seizures

What we know:

The 41 individuals taken into custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Dallas Field Office face administrative immigration violations. Authorities said 29 of those arrested are suspected of illegally working at the establishment.

As part of the ongoing criminal investigation, HSI Dallas agents seized approximately $30,000 in U.S. currency and various business records from the club.

What they're saying:

"HSI Dallas is committed to eradicating the vile scourge of sex trafficking from our local communities," said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard.

"Working in conjunction with our federal and local partners and leveraging HSI’s unique investigative authorities, we were able to disrupt the suspected trafficking operation at this cabaret and are working to identify potential victims."

Local perspective:

A neighboring business owner says he never saw anything unusual and is more worried about the impact this will have on a business area that is mostly frequented by Hispanic customers.

Right next door at Global Carz, a car dealer said the helicopters first got his attention.

"Of course, I heard about raids like that, but I didn't expect the ferocity. There were so many armed men and women that it was, it was, it was quite frightening," said Richard, car dealer at Global Carz.

The car dealer told us Chicas Bonitas kept tight security and had been, in his word 'good neighbors'.

"Rolled up, and it was filled, the whole Chicas Vania, quarters of an acre, maybe a full acre, filled with police cars and SWAT vehicles, vehicles and all of them had their lights on and everything else," said Robert.

"It didn't seem like they were being held or anything like that. Can't imagine. They said that there was human trafficking."

He says he’s never had problems with the club and was startled to see agents with guns drawn and surrounding the business. 

"I mean, they have a guard outside, like that. You can't just get in there. They have perimeter control," Robert stated.

He says traffic at his business, which is predominantly Hispanic, has slowed down since the raid.

"We usually have a lot more walk-ins, but no one is coming around this area…"

"There’s no one to buy anything, no one’s doing anything, and they’re not going to buy a car if they’re afraid they’re going to get deported."

Criminal Histories

ICE is continuing to process the individuals arrested, noting that at least five have prior criminal convictions following illegal entry into the U.S. One individual has illegally entered the country at least 10 times.

Among those detained with prior criminal convictions are:

• Juan Carlos Salas Medina, 30, a Mexican national who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally 10 times. His convictions include aggravated assault of a family member, possession of a controlled substance, and driving under the influence (DUI).
• Julios Cesar Martinez, 47, a Mexican national with three convictions for assault causing bodily injury and DUI.
• Victor Manuel Manzano-Ramirez, 47, a Mexican national with two illegal entries and a DUI conviction.
• Gustavo Rojas-Garda, 44, a Mexican national with a DUI conviction.
• Genaro Diaz-Perez, 44, a Mexican national convicted of prostitution.

Supporting Agencies

Agencies that assisted HSI Dallas and ICE ERO in the operation included the Dallas Police Department, the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigative Division.