A four-day sweep of 18 massage parlors across Denton County in late June resulted in four immediate closures, five felony investigations, and a human trafficking disclosure that remains under investigation, the Denton County Sheriff's Office announced in a July 29 press release.
Flower Mound police were among four local departments that assisted DCSO's Human Trafficking Unit during the June 23–26 operation, which the agency called the "Illicit Massage Parlor Abatement Operation."
What investigators found
Working alongside the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, deputies conducted licensing inspections at all 18 businesses. Prior to those inspections, DCSO investigators had already developed probable cause and obtained search warrants for five of the parlors as part of ongoing criminal investigations.
The operation produced enforcement actions at every parlor inspected:
- Four closed the same day inspectors arrived
- Six had evidence triggering administrative closure procedures by TDLR for serious violations
- Eight received citations for additional licensing violations
Evidence gathered also led to five aggravated promotion of prostitution cases, two operating-without-a-license cases, and two individuals taken into custody on suspicion of immigration status violations. Deputies seized $2,132 in cash.
One reported disclosure of human trafficking is still under investigation. Nonprofit organizations Denton County Friends of the Family and Mosaic House Dallas offered services to potential victims during the operation.
Who participated
The Lewisville, Carrollton, Flower Mound, and The Colony police departments assisted DCSO, along with fire and code enforcement personnel. The Vermont State Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement provided Chinese-speaking translators.
DCSO has not publicly identified which of the 18 parlors were inspected or confirmed whether any are located in Flower Mound or Highland Village. The Cross Timbers Gazette reported July 29 that the agency had not responded to a request for that information.
Background
The June sweep follows a separate DCSO operation in April that closed two Flower Mound massage parlors — Eva Massage on Cross Timbers Road and Sun Massage on Flower Mound Road — after investigators found evidence of prostitution. Flower Mound police assisted in that operation as well.
In its press release, DCSO said the agency remains committed to working with local, state, and federal partners to investigate human trafficking, hold offenders accountable, and connect victims with needed services.
No court dates have been announced for the five aggravated promotion of prostitution cases or the two immigration-related custody cases.
