BEAUMONT, Texas — Today is the final day of Crime Stoppers Month and Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas has proven that tips can lead to arrests.
From crimes about thefts to homicides and even human trafficking, Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas covers it all.
In May 2023, tips about human trafficking and prostitution poured in, leading to the closure of several massage parlors. The most recent bust was in early January 2024.
Seven massage parlors in Orange County were busted by law enforcement.
"That's whenever you get collaboration with multi-agencies. And that's what happened," said Crime Stoppers of SETX Administrator and Campus Coordinator Jeremy Raley.
Crime Stoppers tips helped the FBI, Homeland Security and local police find the parlors, investigate and set up a bust.
"The biggest problem is that sex trafficking and human trafficking is coming right down the interstate," said Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll.
"We're on a major corridor being in Southeast Texas, Interstate 10 goes from the east coast to the west coast," Raley said.
Along that corridor there are stash houses hiding in plain sight. Stash houses are places where traffickers keep their victims. on the outside they look like normal homes.
"It's a real nice home, it's manicured yard, and all this and that. But it's a nightmare," said Raley.
"They will normally have a room that they will just cram people in," Raley told 12News.
The inside of these stash houses are used just to keep victims captive.
"Upstairs.. completely empty.. just like we would normally see in a stash house," Raley said.
Along I-10 in San Antonio in July 2023, five human smuggling victims were found in a stash house. No one knows how long the victims had been in the home.
"It might seem like it's a small deal here. But it grows into a bigger deal once you start digging in," said Raley.
Hotels are also often used by traffickers.
May 2023, Crime Stoppers got tips about the La Quinta on Walden Road in Beaumont. Seven men were arrested in a human trafficking sting.
They had answered an online ad created by undercover Jefferson County deputies.
"It's just good practices to be aware of your area, if something does seem wrong, report it, it doesn't hurt to do that," Raley said.
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If you have information about a crime you could earn a cash reward of up to $1000 by providing an ANONYMOUS tip to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas.
Call 833-TIPS (8477) or download the P3Tips App on your mobile device to submit your tip anonymously.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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