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[Press Conference: "Human Trafficking Initiative"]
EVERYONE.THANK YOU FOR, OR THIS AFTERNOON, I'M SORRY.
GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I'M A CAPTAIN WITHIN HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF LEADING THE VICE DIVISION, WHICH ALSO HOUSES OUR, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT AND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESCUE ALLIANCE.
WE'RE HERE TODAY, SHARE OUTCOMES OF OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS DURING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH, UH, FROM THIS PAST JANUARY IN HOUSTON, WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE LEADERS WHO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND STRONGLY SUPPORT OUR ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING EFFORTS.
OUR SUCCESS IS BOLSTERED BY THE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UH, RESCUE ALLIANCE WITH OUR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATIONS ARE CRUCIAL BECAUSE THEY ENHANCE INFORMATION SHARING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND COORDINATED RESPONSES LEADING TO MORE EFFECTIVE IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS AND PROSECUTION OF PERPETRATORS.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, UH, UH, AND PRESENCE TODAY, STARTING WITH MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, CHIEF NO DIAZ.
WE HAVE ASSISTANT US ATTORNEY, JENNIFER WENHOLD, HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS, DEF, DEPUTY SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, AARON BURKE.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY DA'S OFFICE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BRETT LIGON, FORT BEND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY BRIAN MILTON, DPS REGIONAL DIRECTOR, GERALD BROWN, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, MAJOR BEN KATRA, MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ASSISTANT CHIEF RICHARD BASS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT THREE, CAPTAIN ADAM COSTA.
WE ALSO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO TEAM MEMBERS ACCOMPANYING OUR PARTNERS TODAY.
THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR ONE-ON-ONE DISCUSSIONS AT THE END OF OUR PRESS CONFERENCE.
NOW IT'S MY HONORS TO INVITE MAYOR WHITMEYER TO SHARE HIS REMARKS.
HE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY CHIEF, UH, DIAZ, AND THEN DEPUTY SPECIAL IN CHARGE.
THANK YOU TO, UH, CAPTAIN ZIA AND, UH, HPD, CERTAINLY CHIEF DIAZ, FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
WE HAVE, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM PECK WITH US.
AND, UM, THIS IS JUST ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOW WHAT COLLABORATION DOES TO FIGHT CRIME AND TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS PRESENT.
WE'VE PASSED TOUGH LAWS IN AUSTIN.
WHEN I WAS CHAIRING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WE ENHANCED THE PENALTIES.
WE HAD, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UH, ZERO TOLERANCE, SCHOOL ZONES, OTHER AREAS, BUT YOU CAN PASS ALL THE LAWS YOU WANT TO.
BUT IT GETS DOWN TO THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WE'RE WITH TODAY, THEIR INVESTIGATIONS, THEIR PROSECUTIONS.
AND THE REALLY SIGNIFICANT FACT THAT WE'RE WITNESSING TODAY IS THE COLLABORATION, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.
AND THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING PERPETRATORS DO NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO COUNTY LINES OR CITY LIMITS, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE ACROSS OUR STATE AND NATION.
OUR PROXIMITY TO THE BORDER, OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, OUR VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY MAKES US A REAL TARGET FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKED PERPETRATORS.
SO LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PROSECUTORS.
WE NEED OUR JUDGES TO HOLD THESE FOLKS CHARGED ACCOUNTABLE, GET 'EM TO TRIAL.
IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE INNOCENT, LET 'EM GO.
IF THEY'RE REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS, IF THEY'RE REPEAT OFFENDERS, HOLD 'EM ACCOUNTABLE.
DO NOT RETURN THEM TO OUR STREETS.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ACTUALLY GET REPORTS AND RESULTS OF A JANUARY A MONTH DESIGNATED TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AS THE MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY, I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW EVERY MONTH, EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR COMMUNITY IS GONNA FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING EVERY DAY WE'RE GONNA FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
THE HORROR STORIES THAT INVESTIGATORS WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL SEE WHEN FOLKS GET TO TRIAL.
WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR 'EM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
AGAIN, EACH AGENCY, INDIVIDUALS, THIS IS WHY THIS IS, WE'RE MEETING THE CALL OF DUTY.
IT'S WHY BRAD RUNS FOR DA MS. MIDDLETON, WE, OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE.
WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE COLLABORATION, BUT THANK YOU.
THIS IS WHY WE GET UP AND GO TO WORK, AND WE NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD.
WE'RE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.
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GONNA BE HIDING BEHIND THE CITY LIMITS, OR YOU SURE AS HELL DON'T WANNA DO IT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.I'M JUST HERE TO TELL YOU, WE ARE FIRED UP TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND CHIEF DIAZ, I TELL PEOPLE, WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU'RE FIGHTING CRIME.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I'LL YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME.
FIRST, THANK, THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
THANKS TO OUR MEDIA PARTNERS FOR BEING HERE.
MR. LIGAN, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP.
BRIAN MIDDLETON COULDN'T BE HERE.
SEAN DEER COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT KNOW THAT THIS IS A, UH, GLOBAL EFFORT.
WE STRIVE TO WORK THESE KINDS OF INVESTIGATIONS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UH, WE HAVE THE MOST TALENTED PEOPLE, IN MY OPINION, IN THE COUNTRY BEHIND THESE KEYBOARDS.
SO IF YOU COME TO THIS COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE COMMITTING THESE AWFUL CRIMES AGAINST JUVENILES, MINORS, AND WHAT HAVE YOU, UH, KNOW THAT THE POLICE ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
UH, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, THERE'S NO BOUNDARIES.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN TRAVEL FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND MEET A YOUNG PERSON TO COMMIT AN AWFUL ACT IN HARRIS COUNTY OR FORT BEND COUNTY FOR THAT MATTER, UH, IT YOU BEST NOT DO IT, BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE'RE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
WE, WE PUT A LOT OF RESOURCE IN IT.
AGAIN, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT DO AMAZING JOBS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THEY IMPRESS ME EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND, UH, THEY'RE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS, RIGHT? SO OUR PARTNERS, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN JUST ALONG WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE DIFFERENT DAS, THE MULTI-AGENCY TASK FORCE.
THEY WORK AND WE WORK LIKE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO, IF YOU'RE SEEING ME KNOW THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS GREAT, WE CAN RAISE OUR KIDS HERE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
KNOW THAT THIS COMMITMENT, THIS BODY OF POLICE IS HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY'S SAFE FROM THESE AWFUL PREDATORS.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING OR YOU KNOW SOMETHING, PLEASE REPORT IT.
AND, UH, THANK, THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR PARTNERS.
IT, IT IS BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNERSHIP.
AND THESE INVESTIGATIONS AREN'T EASY.
THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF SKILL, UH, A LOT OF INTERNET SKILLS, RIGHT? A LOT OF COMPUTER SKILLS.
SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE MAYOR, UH, FOR AFFORDING US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SUPPORT, UM, THE DRIVE TO MAKE THIS CITY SAFE.
IT, IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY, UM, A PRIORITY FOR THIS OFFICE.
WE MEET EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND WE TACKLE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH EQUITY AND VIGOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT LET US DO THESE JOBS, AND I'LL PASS IT OVER TO MY PARTNER, RIGHT FROM THE HOMELAND SECURITY.
I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT AREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK TODAY.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, THE SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS SUPPORTED ALL OF OUR EFFORTS DURING HUMAN TRAFFICKING MONTH, AS WELL AS ALL THE TIME.
UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
UH, IT'S A CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT ALL OF US NOW RECOGNIZE AND THE WORLD RECOGNIZES THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT.
I ALSO WANNA THANK OUR PARTNERS WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESCUE ALLIANCE.
TOGETHER, WE'VE DISMANTLED, DISMANTLED TRAFFICKING NETWORKS, PROVIDED TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS, AND SET A NATIONAL STANDARD THAT THE WORLD AND EVERYBODY ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN, CAN COPY TO TRY TO FIGHT THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE VICTIMIZING CHILDREN, WOMEN AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE COLLABORATION WITH HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND, AND THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
IN A COUPLE SPECIFIC CASES, AGAIN, I THINK A LOT OF CASES WERE HIGHLIGHTED, BUT THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT REALLY STAND OUT AS REALLY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, WE IDENTIFIED AN 18-YEAR-OLD SURVIVOR THAT HAD BEEN VICTIMIZED SINCE SHE WAS 15.
WE RESCUED HER AND PROVIDED THE SURVIVOR SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR LIVES WHOLE AND TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL.
UM, WE ALSO IDENTIFIED AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ONLINE, UH, SPEAKING TO A MINOR AND ATTEMPTING TO EXPLOIT A MINOR CHILD EXPLOITATION.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING GO HAND IN HAND BECAUSE OF THE ONLINE ACTIVITIES NOW.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ON THE STREETS AND THE MALLS AND THE SCHOOLS.
WHEN CHILDREN ARE ONLINE, THEY BECOME VULNERABLE TO THIS KIND OF ABUSE.
TOGETHER, WE'VE TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO END THIS MODERN DAY FORM OF SLAVERY, AND I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR HELP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THIS MISSION.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME SPEAK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, CHIEF AND AGENT BURKE FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, EVERY DAY IS ACTUALLY EVEN TRAFFICKING DAY FOR US, AND I THINK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS WOULD AGREE.
SO THIS JANUARY, WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON TRAFFICKERS, THE PRIMARY EXPLOITERS WHO PERPE PERPETUATE THE CYCLE OF ABUSE AND PROFIT FROM
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THE SUFFERING OF VICTIMS. AS A RESULT OF OUR COMBINED EFFORTS, 15 TRAFFICKERS WERE ARRESTED, 21 TRAFFICKING RELATED CHARGES WERE FILED, AND 29 VICTIMS WERE RESCUED, INCLUDING 11 JUVENILES.THIS ACHIEVEMENT SIGNIFIES THAT 20 LIVES, 29 LIVES WERE SAVED.
AND 15 TRAFFICKERS WILL FA FACE JUSTICE FOR THE HARM THEY'VE CAUSED, CAUSED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO INVITE DETECTIVE CYNTHIA GARCIA, OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESCUE ALLIANCE COORDINATOR, ALSO AN OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATOR TO HIGHLIGHT A CASE THAT EXEMPLIFIES HOW TRAFFICKERS POSSESS CONTROL OVER THEIR VICTIMS, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE.
ON JANUARY 15TH, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT CONDUCTED A PROACTIVE VICTIM RECOVERY OPERATION.
DETECTIVE IDENTIFIED AN ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT FEATURING EXPLICIT IMAGES OF A KNOWN FEMALE JUVENILE, ONCE CONTACTING THE PROVIDED NUMBER OF THE JUVENILE DETAILED SEXUAL SERVICES, AND AGREED TO MEET AT A SPECIF, A SPECIFIED LOCATION.
SURVEILLANCE OBSERVED HER ARRIVING AS A PASSENGER IN A CHEVROLET TAHOE AND UNDERCOVER OFFICER ENGAGED HER IN A CONVERSATION CONFIRMING INTENTIONS TO EXCHANGE SEXUAL ACTS FOR PAYMENT LEADING TO HER RECOVERY BY UNIFORMED OFFICERS.
THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER WAS DETAINED WITHOUT INCIDENT.
A SEARCH REVEALED A BACKPACK CONTAINING A GLOCK 26, 9 MILLIMETER PISTOL WITH THE LOADED EXTENDED MAGAZINE AND AN INSTALLED SWITCH ALONG WITH ANOTHER EXTENDED MAGAZINE.
INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT THE JUVENILE HAD MET THE SUSPECT WEEKS EARLIER, PAYING HIM TO CREATE AND POST THE ADVERTISEMENT.
HE SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSPORTED HER TO THE ARRANGED MEETINGS.
SUSPECT RE GALLEGOS WAS CHARGED WITH A FELONY OFFENSES OF TRAFFICKING OF A CHILD BOND SET AT $100,000 AND COMPELLING PROSTITUTION BOND $100,000.
THEN ON JANUARY 23RD, DURING ANOTHER PROACTIVE OPERATION BY THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE SAME JUVENILE WAS RECOVERED AFTER AGREEING TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTS FOR A FEE, SHE HAD BEEN RESIDING AT THE SUSPECT'S, UM, HOME AND COMMUNICATING WITH HIM WHILE HE WAS IN JAIL, DESPITE THE, UH, INACTIVE PROTECTIVE ORDER PROHIBITED THAT PROHIBITED SUCH CONTACT.
THIS CASE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FBI, HIS CURRENT.
HE'S CURRENTLY IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
HIS NEXT COURT DATE IS MARCH 21ST, 2025.
SUSPECT RE GALLS WAS CHARGED ADDITIONALLY WITH VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER BOND SAID TO $150,000.
HE'S CURRENTLY IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
THIS CASE HIGHLIGHTS HOW TRAFFICKERS CAN STILL POSSESS CONTROL OVER THEIR VICTIMS DESPITE BEING INCARCERATED.
DETECTIVE GARCIA WILL PROVIDE SOME, UH, REMARKS IN SPANISH TI.
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THANK YOU, DETECTIVE GARCIA.MS. WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, IF YOU HAVE, HE HAS NO, NO QUESTIONS.
CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING IN SPANISH ABOUT YOUR STATEMENT BEFORE? CAN WE DO IT AFTER THE, THE EVENT? ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE TO PIMPS OUT THERE THAT ARE PROBABLY WATCHING THE, THESE, UH, PRESS CONFERENCES LIKE ON ON THE TV? WHAT, WHAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO PEOPLE? THE, THE MESSAGE IS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA TOLERATE IT, BUT THE MESSAGE IS ALSO TO THE PARENTS.
IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT SHOWS SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL ABUSE COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT'S AVOIDING CO EYE CONTACT WITH YOU OR ANY KIND OF SOCIAL INTERACTION, UH, IS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU LIKE YOU NORMALLY DO, OR PERHAPS THEY'RE GETTING, THEY, THEY SHOW UP WITH A NICE PURSE OR A FANTASTIC PHONE OR REALLY NICE CLOTHING THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU USUALLY USE.
I'D, I'D ASK THAT YOU AS A PARENT, STAY IN YOUR KIDS' BUSINESS, STAY IN THEIR FACES, LOOK ON THEIR PHONES, BECAUSE, UH, THESE PREDATORS, AS I'LL CALL THEM, ARE VERY SERIOUS.
THEY'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL ON THE PHONE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT DOING THINGS ON THE PHONE THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK AS A PARENT, THAT SOMEONE WOULD GO THROUGH THESE EXTREMES TO HAVE SEX WITH A MINOR.
RIGHT? SO FOR US, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS A COMMUNITY, THAT THE PARENTS GET INVOLVED.
IF THE PARENTS FIND SOMETHING ON THE PHONE, PLEASE ALERT THE AUTHORITIES.
PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN TARGET IT.
BECAUSE THIS IS, AGAIN, WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS CITY, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, AND IT'S, IT'S A VERY, UH, VERY SENSITIVE CRIME.
SO THAT'S MY MESSAGE TO THE PIMPS.
IF YOU'RE DOING IT, YOU'RE GONNA GET ARRESTED.
WE'RE ACT, WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT IT.
WE WERE NOT GONNA TOLERATE IT.
YOU MENTIONED WHEN YOU WERE ON CHARGES, WERE THOSE ALL THROUGH THE MONTH OF JANUARY? YES.
AND THEN JUST A SECOND QUESTION.
THIS INITIATIVE ON CRACKING DOWN ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, IS IT STILL PART OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING? ARE THEY RELATED OR, WELL, EVERYTHING KIND OF FALLS INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
SO EVERY OUNCE OF DATA RELATING TO THE POLICE, THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THE SEX TRAFFICKING, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE GENERATED FROM OUR OFFICE TO THE MAYOR.
SO, UH, YES, IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNDER THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE.
I, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR YOU, MAYOR, BUT, UH, HE'S SERIOUS ABOUT CRIME.
UH, HE, HE FEELS AS WE FEEL THAT OUR, OUR GROWTH AS A COMMUNITY HAS TO HAPPEN WITH A FANTASTIC POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL POLICE SERVICES.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IF IT'S NOT SEX TRAFFICKING, IT'S RACERS, IT'S IT'S LOUD NOISE.
SO IT, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND THE MAYOR'S JUST, UH, OUR CHAMPION, RIGHT? 'CAUSE HE SEES IT, HE KNOWS IT.
UH, UH, HE WALKS IT LIKE HE TALKS IT, RIGHT? SO IN, IN LAYMAN'S TERMS. SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE ABOUT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING THESE BAD GUYS IN JAIL.
I JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I WAS WONDERING IF ANY, LIKE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICK AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IF ANY STAFF FROM THAT OFFICE WAS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE? SURE, SURE.
AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
THIS IS A, A MAJOR COMPONENT OF IT.
AND, UM, WE COLLABORATE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, YOU KNOW, IS RELATED TO SO MANY OTHER OFFENSES, UH, DRUGS, GUNS.
IT'S A CRIMINAL ELEMENT THAT, UH, TAKES ADVANTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINE IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WORKING WITH SENATOR HUFFMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE NIA THOMPSON, WE'VE ENHANCED THE PENALTIES.
WE HAVE HUMAN TRAFFIC FREE ZONES.
BUT, UH, THIS INITIATIVE IS THE COLLABORATION OF THE PROSECUTORS, MULTIPLE AGENCIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
CERTAINLY MOST THINGS START IN MY OFFICE.
UH, WE'RE VERY SERIOUS AND WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY MEETINGS I GO TO IN PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD CUP OR OTHER MAJOR EVENTS.
EVERY DAY IS IMPORTANT IN OUR MINDS TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS AND OUR, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
YOU HEAR THESE HORROR STORIES OF, OF VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE.
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UH, SO THE PURPOSE IN THE CONFERENCE SUCH AS THIS, IS TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT RESTING.LET THE BAD FOLKS KNOW THE PIMPS AS, AS HE MENTIONED, UH, THE USERS.
YOU KNOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT PROSTITUTION RINGS, WHICH IS VERY MUCH A PART OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
UH, WE NEED TO PROSECUTE THE USERS OF THESE SEX WORKERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE ADMIT AS MOST AGENCIES, WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED.
SO HOW ARE WE BUILDING OUR NUMBERS? SOME OF THE BEST LAWMEN AND LADIES IN THE STATE ARE IN OUR REGION, AND WE COME TOGETHER.
AND THEN IT WAS AN ISSUE DURING MY CAMPAIGN.
YOU'RE GONNA BRING THE DPS TO HOUSTON? HELL YEAH.
WE HAVE GIVEN DAY, WE'LL HAVE 75 STATE TROOPERS HELPING US, UH, IN COLLABORATION, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, THEY'RE TASK FORCE, THEIR FORENSICS, METRO POLICE.
WE WANT METRO POLICE TO GET OFF JUST THE TRANSIT LINES, WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WALK TO THE TRANSIT STATIONS.
WE WANT 'EM TO FEEL SAFE IN THAT.
WE WANT HPD WORKING WITH METRO.
SO, YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, IT HAS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY IN MY OFFICE BECAUSE I KNOW HOW DANGEROUS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS.
IT'S THE VICTIMS. THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS.
SO, AND, AND IT'S NOT JUST YOUNG LADIES.
THERE'S YOUNG MEN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE ABUSED AS WELL.
AND FOR THOSE 15 CASES, UH, DID ALL THE VICTIMS GO TO A SIMILAR AGENCY FOR VICTIMS SUPPORT? OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT ONE OF THE BEST SOURCES.
CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN ZIA GET ALL THAT.
CAPTAIN ZIA AND HIS INVESTIGATORS CHIEF CAPTAIN.
UM, SO YES, EVERY TIME WE ENCOUNTER A VICTIM, THERE'S MULTIPLE LINES OF, OF OF POINTS WHERE THEY'RE OFFERED SERVICES.
UM, OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE FIRST RESCUE THEM, UM, WE ALSO CONNECT THEM.
WE HAVE A VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, UH, UH, LED BY JULIE PLEASANT.
HER AND HER TEAM DO A FANTASTIC JOB CONNECTING WITH, WITH THE VICTIMS AND, UH, PROVIDING THEM RESOURCES BASED ON WHAT THEIR NEED IS.
WE ALSO WORK WITH OUR, UH, VICTIM ADVOCACY, UH, UH, NONPROFITS OUT IN THE COMMITTEE.
WE COULDN'T GET OUR JOB DONE WITHOUT THEIR HELP AS WELL.
THE DA'S OFFICE HAVE FOLKS, UH, THAT PROVIDE, UH, SUPPORT SERVICES OR AT LIAISON.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S MULTIPLE POINTS WHERE WE MAKE SURE WE TRY TO GET, UH, SOME SORT OF INTERVENTION OR HELP, WHETHER IT'S SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM TO THE VICTIMS. THE GREEN SHIRT? YES, SIR.
OH, UH, YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WAS JUST GONNA MENTION ABOUT LIKE, HOUSTON'S SUCH AN INTERNATIONAL CITY AND LIKE, JUST WHAT KIND OF IMPACT? I, I HEARD A LOT OF NUMBERS AND STATISTICS, BUT CAN SOMEONE SPEAK LIKE, KIND OF FROM AN EMOTIONAL, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THIS HAS ON THE COMMUNITY? AND, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN BIG EVENTS ARE IN TOWN? WELL, E EVERY DAY, LIKE YOU, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, EVERY DAY IS A WORLD CUP DAY FOR US, RIGHT? WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY SAFE.
UH, SO I WON'T SPEAK FROM AN EMOTIONAL LEVEL 'CAUSE I'M NOT VERY EMOTIONAL MYSELF AS A PERSON, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THESE CRIMES DEVASTATE THE VICTIMS, AND IT IS A CRIME THAT THEY CARRY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK THROUGH AS YOUNG ADULTS, UH, INTO ADULTHOOD.
UH, A LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
UH, BUT AS, AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE WE'RE HERE TO MITIGATE THAT, WHERE WE CAN RESCUE THESE PEOPLE, PUT 'EM IN THE RIGHT HANDS TO GIVE THEM THE RIGHT HELP SO THEIR NEEDS CAN BE MET AWAY FROM THESE PREDATORS, AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTINUALLY VICTIMIZING THEM.
UH, THESE CRIMES, THESE CRIMINALS ARE VERY TRANSIENT.
SOME OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MOVED FROM STATE TO STATE.
THAT'S WHY SOME, WE COLLABORATE WITH THE FBI, THEY'LL MOVE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO OKLAHOMA CITY, TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA, TO CALIFORNIA.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST HERE, BUT WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST GROUP OF INVESTIGATORS.
IT'S TACKLING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE IF WE CAN SAVE ONE, WE'VE DONE OUR JOB RIGHT.
AND IF WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THESE BAD GUYS KNOW THAT WE, WE, WE, WE TAKE IT SERIOUS.
I KNOW WE'VE VISITED WITH THE DA
AND HE, I KNOW HE HAS THE RIGHT PEOPLE CHARGING THESE CRIMES, PROSECUTING THESE CRIMES, AND IT'S GONNA GET TOUGH.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT ALL THE TIME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
DO YOU FEEL THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS MORE PREVALENT TODAY? SOCIAL MEDIA'S HERE? SO I, I'D SAY THAT, THAT, THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY'RE NO LONGER HAVING TO CALL AND LOOK
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FOR PEOPLE ON THE PHONE BOOK, GO TO A PARK.IT'S, IT'S IN THE, IT'S IN YOUR, IN YOUR CHILDREN'S HANDS.
SO THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR KIDS, THAT YOU'RE IN THEIR FACE, UH, THE FACETIME SHOULD BE WITH YOUR KIDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT, UH, BEING, UH, MANIPULATED ON THE PHONE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM.
I SAID, UM, ON THE KIND BEING MORE PREVALENT CHILDREN, I FEEL LIKE IN SOME RESEARCH I'VE A LOT PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR KIND OF ABUSE, BUT MAYBE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THERE CAN BE A DIFFERENT VIEW THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE LIKE CHAINS AND METAL.
AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE COULD SPEAK TO KIND OF WHAT YOU SEE MOSTLY WITH THESE CASES VERSUS LIKE IF THAT PERCEPTION IS DIFFERENT FROM MAYBE WHAT SOCIAL RELATED ONLINE KEVIN'S YEAH, YEAH, SURE.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, THESE CASES, OUR DETECTIVES TELL US, UH, UH, SIMILAR STORIES.
A LOT OF TIMES, UH, THE VICTIMS HAVE SOME FAMILIARITY WITH THEIR TRAFFICKERS.
YOU KNOW, THOSE BONDS CAN BE, CAN BE FORMED, UH, IN A MINUTE OR IT COULD TAKE MONTHS, RIGHT? AND, AND TRAFFICKERS, THE, THE MASTER MANIPULATORS THERE ARE, THEY, THEY ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE, THE VULNERABLE POPULATION.
AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, RIGHT, YOUR UNDOCUMENTED STATUS, UH, UH, YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE HAVE A, UH, YOU LOST YOUR JOB, RIGHT? YOU HAVE UNSTABLE HOUSING, YOU SUFFER MENTAL ILLNESS.
UM, ALL THOSE, ALL THOSE THINGS COME, COME INTO PLAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE TRAFFICKER LOOKS FOR, TO, TO FILL THE VOID THAT, THAT MAY BE PRESENT IN THAT, IN THAT PARTICULAR PERSON.
AND THAT'S ALSO WHAT THEY USE TO KEEP EXPLOITING, EXPLOITING THEM AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEM.
UM, AND AS CHIEF MENTIONED, YEAH, SO, YOU KNOW, CYBERSPACE IS OBVIOUSLY WHERE A LOT OF THIS ACTIVITY OCCURS.
NOW, AS VAST AS CYBERSPACE IS, IT IS ALSO HARD FOR US TO KNOW HOW COMMON IT IS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST USING COMMON SENSE AS YOU KNOW, AT AT, THAT'S WHERE ALL THE, THE TREND IS GOING.
SO OUR SUSPICION IS THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE ACTIVITIES ARE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS, AS LAW ENFORCEMENT GO, AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS KNOW THIS, UM, WE REALLY RELY ON, ON, ON THE CYBERSPACE ONLINE METHODS TO TRY TO CONNECT WITH THE, UH, VICTIMS AND TRAFFICKERS.
AND SO AS LONG AS THAT TECHNOLOGY KEEPS ADVANCING, UM, WE'RE GONNA ADAPT WITH IT AND, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, INSTITUTE SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES TO FIND MORE VICTIMS AND PURSUE TRAFFICKERS.
THANK YOU Y'ALL, THANK YOU'ALL FOR COMING.
I'LL DO ONE ON, ON SPANISH FOR YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MEDIA.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING OUR INFORMATION.