What neighbors thought was just another Fort Worth nightclub is now at the center of a multiagency crackdown. Two owners of the Masquerade Cabaret, Margerie Franklin and Trent Craff, were arrested after investigators said the club had been operating as a sexually oriented business without the required permits. The arrests were part of a coordinated effort involving local and federal authorities that followed reports of violence and other criminal activity tied to the venue. People living and working nearby have since been pressing city officials for answers about the club’s permits and basic safety practices.
HSI points to gang activity, prostitution and a shutdown
The Dallas office of Homeland Security Investigations said on X that the Masquerade Cabaret was linked to gang activity, prostitution and illegal alcohol sales, and that the club has now been permanently closed. The post also referenced a shooting allegedly connected to the venue in January 2026, which investigators said helped trigger closer scrutiny of the operation. HSI cast the move as part of a wider push to disrupt criminal activity in North Texas nightlife; the update was posted by HSI Dallas.
City paperwork, nudity allegations and the Feb. 18 arrests
According to City of Fort Worth records, the Masquerade received a certificate of occupancy in October. On Feb. 18, the city sent a letter accusing the club of allowing employees to work in a state of nudity. That same day, owners Franklin and Craff were arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts tied to alleged violations of municipal and county regulations, court filings state. Reporters who reviewed the city records and court documents detailed those findings in the pages of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Fights, a reported shooting and the owners’ history
Fort Worth police say a fight broke out at the Masquerade on Jan. 22, and that someone was allegedly assaulted during the disturbance. Homeland Security’s local account also highlighted an alleged January shooting tied to the club, a claim that helped spur the multiagency operation and was posted by HSI Dallas. Court filings show Craff has a record of charges dating back to 2002 and that he recently received a deferred sentence in February requiring two years of community supervision for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Misdemeanor charges and what could come next
The current counts against Franklin and Craff are misdemeanors based on local permitting rules, but they could still carry financial penalties, permit revocation or other code-enforcement actions as municipal prosecutors review the case. Court documents reviewed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram indicate Craff faces roughly 15 charges stretching back to 2002 and that his deferred sentence calls for two years of community supervision. The paper reported that attempts to reach either Franklin or Craff for comment were unsuccessful.
Camp Bowie neighbors on edge
Neighbors and nearby business owners said the arrests, along with the federal agency’s public post, have renewed long-running worries about safety along parts of the Camp Bowie nightlife strip. Officials say the investigation into the club and its operators is still active, and that more actions could follow as local and federal agencies continue their review.
