A multi-agency undercover operation in North Texas has led to the arrest of over a dozen men suspected of using the internet to solicit sex from minors.
The Collin County Sheriff’s Office issued a news release announcing the massive bust, with 10 men charged with online solicitation of a minor and five more with soliciting prostitution of a person less than 18 years of age. The suspects are from across the region, with one — 43-year-old Jason Myers — being an associate rector at Trinity Episcopal Church of Fort Worth.
The church has since issued a letter to parishioners explaining that Myers had been suspended in light of the news.
“At this time, we do not have any reason to believe that anyone in our congregation or school has been harmed, but there is much that we do not know or understand, and we have many questions that cannot yet be answered. I want to assure you that we are cooperating fully with law enforcement and will share information with you as it becomes available,” the letter read.
“Operation Home Alone” has been running for several years to target those looking to prey upon minors using online forums and social media. This year, Collin County investigators were assisted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas Police Department, and Plano Police Department. The Collin County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) also supported the operation.
Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner expressed hopes that the success of the undercover sting, which ran from April 9 to 11, will demonstrate to parents “the potential dangers of online communications for children.”
“Cell phones, gaming devices, and online computers are hunting grounds for individuals who seek to prey upon children and I implore parents and guardians to speak to their children about the inherent dangers these devices present,” he said.
“Make no mistake, my deputies remain resolute in their efforts to protect children in our community from those who seek to do them harm and my hat goes off to them, and the investigators from participating agencies, for their work on Operation Home Alone 2024.”
Here is a list of the men arrested in the operation:
Online solicitation of a minor
Gregory Joseph Jr.
Lee Mourning
Benjamin Renfro
Jerrold Allen
Kenneth Rodriguez
Brent Allen
Jason Myers
Oscar Rosas Martinez
Vishal Mishra
Michael Salyer
Soliciting prostitution
Michael Chattin
Isaias Torres-Loera
Sean Mankin
Matthew Mcgee
Isai De Los Santos Guijarro
Some of these men may face additional charges as the authorities forensically examine the devices they allegedly used to contact their intended target. There were also 13.9 grams of what police suspect was methamphetamine and two firearms seized during the operation.
DPD has led several busts targeting sex solicitors recently in Northwestern Dallas, which has become a breeding ground for commercial sex activities. These efforts coincide with a 100.3% rise in reported prostitution-related offenses between 2022 and 2023.
Nonetheless, DPD has been grappling with a serious staffing shortage. Even though a City analysis found that a municipality the size of Dallas needs a force of 4,000 officers, DPD currently only has around 3,000 sworn-in officers. Moreover, Dallas City leaders opted to budget DPD just $654 million this fiscal year, far less than the spending amounts allocated to police in other high-crime jurisdictions, like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.