The Boss Lady Pub in Socorro is locked up and dark this week after El Paso County secured a civil court order that shut the doors on allegations of prostitution and possible human trafficking tied to the bar. The injunction sidelines the business and kicks off a county-driven eviction effort aimed at pushing the operators off the property.
According to KVIA, a final order from the court labels the Boss Lady Pub a public nuisance and mandates that it stay closed for one year, which is the longest closure the statute allows. The defendants must also post a $9,000 bond and cover more than $400 in court costs within 20 days. County attorneys sued owner Maria Elena Olvera after what they described as undercover work by state agents. The filing also points to 13 police calls to the bar over the past year, including an aggravated assault case in which an elderly victim was left incoherent. County officials say they reached a settlement in December with property owner Carolina Gonzalez, who agreed to initiate eviction proceedings and promised not to allow the Boss Lady Pub to reopen at her location.
The nuisance lawsuit was brought by the El Paso County Attorney’s Office, which handles civil litigation and nuisance abatement for the county, according to the El Paso County Attorney's Office. This kind of civil action is a common tool when officials want to move quickly on what they describe as problem businesses instead of waiting for any criminal cases to work their way through the system.
Undercover probe found prostitution and permit violations
KVIA reports that Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents went undercover at the club and documented five instances of prostitution, along with four cases in which employees allegedly solicited drinks illegally. Investigators also noted reports that dancers were not allowed to leave while on duty, conduct they say can be a red flag for possible human trafficking. The station further reports that the bar was operating as a sexually oriented business without the required City of Socorro permit. Officials emphasized that, as of the county’s announcement, no criminal human trafficking charges had been filed.
Legal path forward
The county’s move targets the business through civil law rather than criminal prosecution. Any future human trafficking charges would fall under Texas Penal Code Chapter 20A, which the Texas Attorney General explains includes detailed definitions of trafficking and a range of potential penalties. For now, the civil injunction lets county lawyers pursue eviction and seek fines while criminal prosecutors decide whether the evidence supports filing charges.
In the meantime, the Boss Lady Pub is closed for at least a year, and the case highlights how El Paso County is leaning on civil enforcement tools, alongside state investigations, to clamp down on businesses they say are connected to criminal activity. County officials say they intend to keep working with state and local law enforcement as any ongoing investigations continue.
