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For years, investigators have conducted stings targeting sex trafficking in the Interstate 10 corridor of 11th Street. In 2022, a similar sting netted 21 arrests.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Special Agents spearheaded a human trafficking operation last weekend that resulted in 17 arrests and the recovery of multiple human trafficking victims. By April 1, all but one of the suspects had already bonded out of jail.
March 27-28, DPS Criminal Investigations Division (CID), along with Highway Patrol, DPS Victim Support Services, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Beaumont Police Department, Montgomery County SO, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Governor’s Office – Child Sex Trafficking Team, conducted the multi-day operation to arrest those soliciting sex and human traffickers and recover human trafficking victims.
The operation was conducted in the 2000 block of North 11th Street in Beaumont.
Investigators arrested Jeremie Deshaun Nellar Barabin, 39, of Port Arthur, for human trafficking, a felony offense. Barabin is currently being held at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility, according to jail records.
The following persons were arrested for solicitation of prostitution, also a felony offense, and booked into the Jefferson County Correctional Facility:
- Cedric Fontenot, 48, of Beaumont
- Jakorian Sanderson, 27, of Beaumont
- Nicholas Gilmore-Jones, 23, of Beaumont
- Tyler Callahan, 31, of Beaumont
- Alfred Thompson, 39, of Beaumont
- Samuel Rodriguez-Benavente, 27, of Beaumont
- James Beuhler, 61, of Lumberton
- John Nolte III, 55, of Sour Lake
- David Mullins, 54, of Orange
- Steve Lawrence, 37, of Cleveland
- Shahram Omid, 23, of Houston
- Justin Miguel Angel, 20, of Groves
- Jayce Dunne, 31, of Houma, Louisiana
- Larry Bigalow, 42, of Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Jeremy Chapman, 45, of Jennings, Louisiana
- Terell Coker, 43, of Mississippi
According to jail records, all have been released on bond.
The investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests are likely, police report.
Non-governmental organizations specializing in assisting human trafficking victims include the Harvest House and the Garth House, both present during this operation.
Victims of human trafficking can contact the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or call their local law enforcement agency for help.