Attorney General Ken Paxton's office has made strides in the fight against child sex trafficking with the arrest of Deveon Dwayne Byrd in Houston, a move that's put a spotlight on the persistent issue of human trafficking in Texas. According to a release from the Texas Attorney General's Office, Byrd faces allegations of Compelling Prostitution and Trafficking of Persons under the age of 18. "The sex trafficking of minors is one of the most heinous and disgusting crimes imaginable, and I will continue to use the full force of my office to put these sick predators behind bars," Paxton stated.
Highlighted in the Attorney General's announcement was the recovery of an underage victim thought to have been trafficked through online sex service advertisements. The collaborative rescue operation was a concerted effort involving the OAG Human Trafficking Unit, the OAG Fugitive Apprehension Unit, the Department of Public Safety Human Trafficking Unit, and the Houston Police Department. These agencies located and extracted the 17-year-old from a hotel on Westheimer Avenue, where Byrd was apprehended and subsequently placed in Harris County Jail.
Investigations remain ongoing, and the Office of the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Unit, in collaboration with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, continues to diligently pursue justice and dismantle the network that facilitated Byrd’s illicit activities.
