Twenty-one people, including seven Indian nationals, were arrested on charges of solicitation of prostitution and other crimes during a two-day operation conducted by the Denton County Sheriff's Office in Texas, in collaboration with the Highland Village Police Department. Among the seven Indian nationals, five were identified as being of Telugu origin.
The crackdown, named the 'Prostitution Demand Suppression Operation,' took place on August 14 and 15 to address the issue of prostitution in the community.
Of the 21 individuals arrested, fourteen were charged with solicitation of prostitution, a state felony. Two others were arrested on charges of solicitation of prostitution involving a minor, a second-degree felony.
Additionally, two individuals were charged with unlawfully carrying weapons, and three others were arrested for evading arrest.
Here’s the list of individuals of Indian origin who were arrested during the operation, along with the charges they face:
Nikhil Bandi (Denton, TX) – Evading Arrest Detention
Monish Galla (Denton, TX) – Solicitation of Prostitution
Amit Kumar (Little Elm, TX) – Solicitation of Prostitution
Nikhil Kummari (Denton, TX) – Evading Arrest Detention
Jaikiran Reddy Mekala (Denton, TX) – Solicitation of Prostitution Under 18
Evading Arrest Detention Karthik Rayapati (Denton, TX) – Solicitation of Prostitution
Nabin Shrestha (Denton, TX) – Solicitation of Prostitution
The operation also led to the development of key leads related to other individuals involved in prostitution, which are currently being pursued by the Human Trafficking Unit of the Denton County Sheriff's Office, according to a press release.
