Forty-six men were arrested in connection with a massive undercover sex-trafficking sting operation in two affluent North Texas suburbs.
A youth pastor, a high school football coach, a professional hockey player, and a director of operations for a large hospital network were among the men arrested at upscale hotels in Frisco and Southlake on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13.
Homeland Security Investigations spearheaded the multi-agency operation, dubbed Operation Demand Suppression, as part of its Blue Campaign highlighting Human Trafficking awareness month, the HSI Dallas office announced in a press release.
On Tuesday, the Frisco Police Department released the names of the 23 men who were arrested in their city.
“By targeting those involved in this crime, we hope to disrupt this activity and provide assistance to human trafficking victims by getting them connected to the advocates and resources they need,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr.
Many of the men arrested were from cities in North Texas, with a few exceptions. One man was from Aurora, Colorado; another man was from Broken Bow, Oklahoma; and a third man was from San Gabriel, California, according to police and jail records.
Undercover Operation
In the operation, law enforcement officers responded to online solicitations for prostitution, according to Frisco PD.
They arranged meetups at an upscale hotel in Frisco and another in Southlake. Hotel management and staff were aware of the operation and cooperated with officials. The suspects were arrested upon arrival at the locations without incident, authorities said.
LeMarcus Strickland of Keller, Texas, was arrested during the operation in Southlake. The 35-year-old was listed as an area director for the non-profit First Priority of America in Fort Worth, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The organization provides resources for Christian students to form clubs on public school campuses.
Strickland’s information has been removed from the group’s website. The Epoch Times has reached out for comment.
A former teacher and assistant football coach at Flower Mound Marcus High School was also among the men taken into custody.
Cecil Timothy Morrison joined the school district in April 2018, according to The Dallas Morning News. He resigned on Jan. 18.
“Mr. Morrison was placed on administrative leave when the district became aware of his arrest and subsequently submitted his resignation to the district last week,” Lewisville ISD Communications Director Amanda Brim said in a statement, as reported by multiple news outlets. “This is a legal matter outside his role in our district, and we have no indication the circumstances surrounding his arrest involved students.”
Principal Will Skelton sent a message to the families of students at the high school.
“I understand this is difficult news for our students and our school community,” Skelton’s message read. “Our focus will continue to be supporting our students through any impact they may experience due to Coach Morrison’s unexpected departure. I have communicated directly with the football program and families in Coach Morrison’s class to ensure they know we are here to support them.”
Lewisville ISD did not respond to The Epoch Times’ requests for comment.
Jim Hemmingway, 49, of The Colony, Texas, was among the suspects arrested in Frisco. Hemmingway is the former director of operations at Baylor Scott & White Health in North Texas. His information has been removed from the website.
A spokesperson for Baylor Scott & White Health confirmed on Wednesday that Hemmingway is “no longer an employee.”
Allen Americans hockey player Spencer Asuchak, 31, was also arrested in Frisco. He lives in McKinney, Texas.
“We are aware of the situation, and we are waiting for more information,” a spokeswoman for the Allen Americans told The Epoch Times, adding that was all the information she could provide.
On Wednesday, Asuchak was still listed on the team roster.
“The victims of these heinous crimes are treated like commodities, used to make as much money as possible, as quickly as possible,” Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Wayburn said in a joint release. “Those who traffic victims are the scourge of the earth, and we will continue to target those responsible for the trafficking and those who solicit sex from them.”
The law enforcement agencies that participated in the operation include the Tarrant County Human Trafficking Task Force, Frisco Police Department, Flower Mound Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County District Attorney Investigators, Dallas Police Department, Irving Police Department, Midlothian Police Department, Arlington Police Department, and the Colleyville Police Department.
Liars……That is not sex Trafficking…..Sex Trafficking is when a woman is forced into Prostitution.
These are ordinary guys buying a piece of whoopi …..Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world…..there is nothing wrong between two consenting adults.
Home land Security is a joke.. our country is being invaded by illegals and Drugs that has killed more people since Bidens been in office than the Vietnam war. yet nothing is done to stop the Death that comes from Mexico..
The question is did law enforcement use children to solicit these guys….I think not…
Like the Biden Administration, Law enforcement is a joke going after victimless crimes..
Alcohol has destroyed more families than all the Drugs, and it is legal because Government wants a cut of the money..
Every city should have a properly run Cathouse to service the Community and woman can pay for college…
You morons allow Homosexuals to get married , adopt children, sexual abuse them, chop them up to change their gender…..
Did you read the article?
Disgusting pigs using children for their own gain and, likely, satisfaction. It looks like common decency has gone out the window in America. People scratch and claw at the expense of others – whether it’s undercover crime like this, or blatant crime in what the government and corporations do. It’s all: “What can I get for me and I don’t care who suffers in the process!” A pastor and a coach? How far we have fallen!
Don’t forget Sanjay Gupta and Sesame Street are targeting children to get the jabs. “Mommy when can I have myocarditis?”
46 murders of child predators and traffickers must be put in effect immediately better It Be done by the families of the victims than a corrupted pedophile protecting Democrat judicial system of Epstein Island vacationing sexually perverted communist and pedophile protecting communist judges
Diversity a liberal can of worms in forcing to accept abnormal gays as normal. The start of lowering age of consent for sex, by corrupt democrats and the do-nothing GOP always lowering of standards to pacify all that hurts all and what’s worse millions of YOU Americans allow it for fear of the government masters LOL!
Well well well…compared to the white trash that was caught…look at all the BLACKS and LATINO parasites that were snared also!!! Only one solution…castration and a bullet