The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Beaumont Police Department recently conducted a joined human trafficking operation in the Golden Triangle in Texas, United States. It is the first online covert initiative led by the FBI in the area, which covers the cities of Beaumont, Orange and Port Arthur.

Officials conducted an online solicitation investigation where suspects were searching online sex sites and phone apps for males and females to engage in sexual relations. Some of the males and females the suspects were looking to have sex with were underage.

On May 17, 2023, a total of seven men showed up at a motel in Beaumont and were arrested. Here is the list:

1. Christopher Honkomp, 35
2. Derrick Waldon, 46
3. Gilder Boulard, 46
4. Jerome Harmon, 24
5. Kyle Sterling, 61
6. Luke Cameron, 27
7. Tyler Berry, 36

Each of the seven suspects were charged with solicitation of prostitution. In addition, Sterling, Boulard and Honkomp were each charged with solicitation of a minor.

“FBI Beaumont was proud to lead its first-ever federal online covert initiative alongside our partners at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Beaumont Police Department,” FBI Beaumont supervisory senior resident agent Nicole Sinegar stated. “Protecting our East Texas community from subjects seeking to harm children is a top priority for our office. We look forward to spearheading more operations to guard our neighbors from sexual predators.”