Federal and local law enforcement leaders gathered Tuesday to announce the results of a long-running investigation into commercial sex trafficking in Dallas. The press conference highlighted federal grand jury indictments against eight defendants linked to the Paris Adult Book Store.
Ryan Raybould, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, revealed that the defendants are accused of operating the business at 11118 Harry Hines Blvd. as a front for illegal activities. According to the indictment, the establishment rented out locked rooms in the rear of the store to facilitate commercial sex acts and human trafficking.
Raybould stated that the business model involved charging fees for access to these rooms. He explained that individuals engaged in commercial sex would often go on "dates" outside the building before returning to the back of the store to pay the required fees. The front of the location sold novelty items, but the rear area was used for the alleged illegal operations.
The eight individuals named in the federal indictments are Aaron Tyrone Bedford, Monterey Lamont Mason, Eileen Mason, Montre Mason, Larry Jones, Krishenda Doss, Reginald Rose, and Antonio Dario Osorio Avilar. All face charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
Some defendants also face additional counts, including sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion, sex trafficking of a minor, conspiracy to launder money, and felony possession charges.
Travis Pickard, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Dallas, described the probe as "Operation Midnights at Paris." He noted that it was one of the longest-running commercial sex trafficking operations in North Texas. Pickard emphasized that the investigation spanned multiple locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including a property in Plano associated with a suspect.
