BEAUMONT, Texas — A Houston-area man is jailed in Jefferson County after being accused of running a prostitution operation and trafficking four women through threats and coercion.
Benito Jonathan Juarez-Texis, 26, faces charges of Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution and Trafficking of Persons, both first-degree felonies. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison. Magistrate Marc DeRouen set bond at $100,000 for each charge and ordered Juarez-Texis to have no contact with the four alleged victims.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division conducted a victim recovery operation on October 30 at the Holiday Inn on North 11th Street in Beaumont. A DPS cooperating individual contacted an unknown man to arrange sexual services involving four women. The agreed price was reportedly $110 per female for 15 minutes of what investigators said implied full sexual services.
Surveillance units observed a red GMC SUV arrive at the hotel, where four Hispanic women exited the vehicle and entered the hotel. The women were later detained on suspicion of prostitution during an undercover operation. At the same time, police detained the SUV driver, identified as Juarez-Texis.
During interviews, the four women told investigators they were coerced by a man known as “Sebastion” and threatened with violence if they refused to engage in sex acts for money. They stated they were held at a residence on Orange Avenue and were not allowed to leave. According to their statements, Juarez-Texis transported them to various locations to perform sex acts and acted under the direction of “Sebastion.”
Investigators say the women described Juarez-Texis as having a direct working relationship with “Sebastion,” following instructions to transport the women and assist in maintaining the house where the alleged trafficking occurred.
A DPS special agent concluded there is probable cause to believe Juarez-Texis knowingly managed a prostitution enterprise involving multiple victims and trafficked individuals through force, fraud, or coercion.
Authorities note that an arrest indicates probable cause and that Juarez-Texis is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
