In two affluent North Texas communities, 46 men were arrested in connection with a huge undercover sex-trafficking sting operation.
A youth pastor, a high school football coach, a professional hockey player, and the director of operations for a huge hospital network were among the individuals arrested on January 12 and 13.
Homeland Security Investigations led the multi-agency operation, entitled Operation Demand Suppression, as part of its Blue Campaign emphasizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month, according to a press release from the HSI Dallas office.
The names of the 23 males arrested in Frisco were provided by the Frisco Police Department on Tuesday.
All of them should be buried under the prison.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr. said, “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,”
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELWith a few exceptions, the majority of the men detained were from cities in North Texas. According to police and jail records, one man was from Aurora, Colorado, another from Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and a third from San Gabriel, California.
According to Frisco PD, police in the operation responded to online hooker solicitations.
They scheduled meetings in an hoity toity Frisco hotel and another in Southlake. The hotel’s management and personnel were aware of the operation and assisted officials. Authorities claimed the suspects were apprehended without incident when they arrived at their intended locations.
During the operation in Southlake, LeMarcus Strickland of Keller, Texas, was apprehended. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the 35-year-old is an area director for the non-profit First Priority of America in Fort Worth. The group helps Christian students start clubs on public school campuses by providing resources.
Information about Strickland has been removed from the group’s website.
A former teacher and assistant football coach at Flower Mound Marcus High School was also busted.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Cecil Timothy Morrison joined the school district in April 2018. He resigned on January 18th.
“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 wrote in a statement. “This is a legal matter outside his role in our district, and we have no indication the circumstances surrounding his arrest involved students.”
Will Skelton, the high school’s principal, offered a statement to the children’s families.
“I understand this is difficult news for our students and our school community,” Skelton’s statement 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.”
Jim Hemmingway, 49, of The Colony, Texas, was one of those apprehended in Frisco. Hemmingway is a former operations director at Baylor Scott & White Health in North Texas. His information has also been removed from that website.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for Baylor Scott & White Health confirmed that Hemmingway is “no longer an employee.”
Spencer Asuchak, 31, of the Allen Americans, was also arrested in Frisco. He currently resides in McKinney, Texas.
“We are aware of the situation, and we are waiting for more information,” an Allen Americans spokespersonw said, adding it was all the information she could share.
Asuchak was still on the team roster on Wednesday.
“The victims of these heinous crimes are treated like commodities, used to make as much money as possible, as quickly as possible,” said Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Wayburn in a joint statement. “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.”
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 were among the law enforcement agencies involved in the operation.
