Authorities detail human trafficking operation that leads to Port Arthur man’s arrest
Published 12:20 am Tuesday, April 2, 2024
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A 39-year-old Port Arthur man remains in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility following a human trafficking sting last week.
Texas Department of Public Safety Special Agents spearheaded the operation Wednesday and Thursday, during which Jeremie Deshaun Nellar Barabin, 39, was arrested for human trafficking, which is a felony offense. A judge set bond at $45,000 for the human trafficking charge but because he has a parole violation, there is no bond.
The human trafficking operation was held in the 2000 block of North 11th Street in Beaumont, and authorities said a number of other people were arrested on a charge of solicitation of prostitution, also a felony offense.
They include:
- David Mullins, 54, of Orange
- Steve Lawrence, 37, of Cleveland, Texas
- Nicholas Gilmore-Jones, 23, of Beaumont
- Jayce Dunne, 31, of Huoma
- Terell Coker, 43, of Mississippi
- Cedric Fontenot, 48, of Beaumont
- Jakorian Sanderson, 27, of Beaumont
- Tyler Callahan, 31, of Beaumont
- John Nolte III, 55, of Sour Lake
- Alfred Thompson, 39, of Beaumont
- Larry Bigalow, 42, of Lake Charles
- James Beuhler, 61, of Hardin County
- Samuel Rodriguez-Benavente, 27, of Beaumont
- Jeremy Chapman, 45, of Jennings, Louisiana
- Shahram Omid, 23, of Houston
- Justin Angel, 20, of Groves
The investigation
DPS Criminal Investigations Division, along with Texas Highway Patrol, DPS Victim Support Services, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Beaumont Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Governor’s Office-Child Sex Trafficking Team, conducted the multi-day operation.
Officers arrested those soliciting sex, human traffickers and helped in the recovery of human trafficking victims, according to information from DPS.
There were also non-governmental organizations specializing in assisting human trafficking victims present during the operation, including the Harvest House and Garth House.
Victims of human trafficking can contact the Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or call their local law enforcement agency for help.