The Arlington Police Department dismantled a sex trafficking ring at a local strip club and arrested four suspects.
Arlington police busted the Chicas Locas strip club on October 23 after a sex trafficking investigation, the department announced on October 29.
Officers booked two club managers – 25-year-old Oziel Ramos and 40-year-old Ariel Tapia, and two patrons – 28-year-old Oscar Escobar and 50-year-old Alejandro Hernandez.
At the time of publication, Arlington Police Spokesman Tim Ciesco told The Dallas Express officers had only arrested four suspects.
“Additional arrests and charges are still pending,” Ciesco told DX.
Ramos and Tapia were booked in the Arlington City Jail for charges of aggravated promotion of prostitution, according to a press release. Escobar faces charges for outstanding misdemeanor warrants, and Hernandez faces charges for drugs and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Ramos was released on a $50,000 bond, and Tapia was released on a $75,000 bond, per KERA.
In August, the department’s Human Exploitation And Trafficking (HEAT) Unit learned employees at Chicas Locas, at 2711 Majesty Drive, were performing “illegal sex acts” for money, with the club’s managers collecting proceeds, according to the release. Investigators also learned of alleged drug sales.
Authorities investigated Chicas Locas for months, as part of “Operation Safe Stage.” A SWAT team, Arlington Police detectives, the Tarrant County Human Trafficking Task Force, TABC, anti-trafficking nonprofits, and others raided the club on October 23.
Officers arrested Ramos and Tapia. They also searched for additional crimes at the club and checked all patrons for active warrants, booking Escobar and Hernandez. Investigators seized $13,000, drug paraphernalia, and digital and forensic evidence from the club.
“Additional interviews with employees helped corroborate the trafficking allegations,” the release reads.
Detectives interviewed 10 to 20 employees that night, and nonprofits for trafficking victims offered them services, Ciesco said.
TABC Victim Services – alongside anti-trafficking nonprofits Rescue Hill, Rescue Her, and Traffick911 – spoke with potential victims and shared resources, according to the release.
Spanish-speaking police officers also responded, alongside those from the Community Action Team, DWI Unit, K-9 Unit, and Digital Forensics Unit. Meanwhile, the Arlington Fire Marshal’s Office and Health Department documented code violations.
“Federal law enforcement was not involved in our joint operation,” Ciesco said. “This was strictly a criminal enforcement effort and involved local and state agencies.”
Arlington police are working with city officials to explore possible civil enforcement against Chicas Locas, according to the release.
“No single agency can tackle this issue alone. It takes all of us working together,” said Arlington Police Chief Al Jones. “Human trafficking has no place in Tarrant County, and we will use every resource available to go after those who commit this heinous crime.”