Lubbock is a city of approximately 257,000 residents located in Lubbock County and is situated between Amarillo and Midland in northwest Texas. Prostitution and sex trafficking activity have been documented in the city, and generate a wide range of additional serious crimes. For example, in August of 2013, the Lubbock Police Department conducted an undercover online prostitution and sex trafficking operation where officers arrested five offenders at the local Red Roof Inn. During the operation, officers discovered two underage girls who were being sold for purposes of prostitution. Two offenders were arrested on charges of compelling prostitution, human trafficking, and aggravated promotion of prostitution and the remaining three offenders were arrested on charges of human trafficking and promotion of prostitution. Between 2007 and 2012, cases of sex trafficking were also reported in Lubbock, some of which have involved child sexual abuse material (CSAM, often called “child pornography” in state laws).  For example, in April, 2011, a Lubbock woman was indicted by a federal grand jury and accused of creating “child pornography.” She was already in jail after Lubbock police conducted a prostitution sting at a local hotel and conference center. The woman faced federal charges for of creating an explicit computer video of an underage girl, in addition to state charges of prostitution and compelling prostitution. In August, 2011, two Lubbock residents were arrested and charged with running a child sex trafficking ring. Officers went to their home after responding to online ads they believed were for prostitution. Police say they found a teenage girl hiding in a closet inside the home. The couple was held on multiple charges including promotion of prostitution and possession of “child pornography.” In addition, in the mid-2000s, a serial killer targeting prostituted women was active in the city.

To combat the demand for purchasing commercial sex, the Lubbock Police Department conducts both street-level and web-based reverse stings, in addition to officers routinely publicizing the names and identities of arrested sex buyers. In 2012, the Lubbock Police Department launched a concerted “shaming” effort by posting the names and photos of arrested sex buyers on the LPD’s official website. LPD officers also posted a group photo of the eight sex buyers arrested to the LPD’s Facebook page. A combined task force of local, state, and federal law enforcement inclusive of the Lubbock Police Department’s Special Operations Division, Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Division, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted a two-day prostitution operation from August 31st through September 2nd, 2020, conducted an operation that led to the indictment of 15 individuals on prostitution related charges. According to reports, the sting took place at an assortment of local hotels and the majority of charges pertained to solicitation prostitution and prostitution, however other non-prostitution related violations were reported as well. While the statement given by Lubbock Police Department confirmed the identity and charges of those involved in the sting, details could not be given due to ongoing investigations being completed by the Special Operations Division. In December of 2020, the Lubbock Police Department’s Special Operations Division, Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Division and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission conducted a two-day prostitution operation at a Lubbock hotel on Marsha Sharp Freeway, which resulted in the arrest of 13 male sex buyers. The photos and identifiers of the arrested sex buyers were included in news reports.

In January of 2021, the Lubbock Police Department’s Special Operations Division with the assistance of LPD Patrol, Texas Tech Police Department, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission conducted a two-day prostitution operation, resulting the arrest of 17 male sex buyers. In February of 2021, the Lubbock Police Department’s Special Operations Division, collaborating with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Amarillo Police Department, conducted a two-day prostitution operation resulting in the arrest of 16 male sex buyers on charges of soliciting prostitution, soliciting prostitution of a minor, amongst other offenses. The identities of the arrestees were released in news reports. In May of 2021, the Lubbock Police Department’s Special Operations Division conducted a prostitution operation that resulted in the arrest of  nine male sex buyers on charges of soliciting prostitution. The identities, ages, charges, and photos of arrestees were included in reports. No other information regarding the operation was included within the reports. In July, 2021, 11 male sex buyers were arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution amongst other offenses. Their photos and other identifying information were included in news releases.

In February, 2022, the Texas DPS Human Trafficking Unit carried out an undercover sex trafficking operation in Lubbock County. The agents used a social media app linked to sex trafficking. Agents arrested a man for solicitation of prostitution from someone under 18. The DPS said the suspect offered to exchange drugs and food stamps for sex with a woman and a minor. He then arrived at an agreed-upon location where he “…made his intentions to engage in illegal sexual conduct and presence known,” according to the DPS. Also in February, 2022, police conducted a sting operation in which 16 men were arrested and charged with soliciting prostitution.

In September, 2022, police arrested 13 male sex buyers in a street based sting conducted in the 5100 block of Marsha Sharp Freeway. Each was charged with felony solicitation of prostitution, and the identities of the arrested men were publicly disclosed. One additional person was charged with “trafficking person conduct/sexual.” He was arrested by officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety, which confirmed his arrest was related to the other arrests in a joint operation with Lubbock Police. Additional arrest were made for outstanding warrants, Delivery of Dangerous Drug, and Forgery. Five females were contacted and identified as possible victims of human trafficking.

In November, 2022, the Lubbock Police Department announced the arrest of 16 individuals during a prostitution sting that took place in the 3400 block of the Marsha Sharp Freeway. LPD’s Special Operations Division, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the operation. The sting resulted in 13 felony arrests for solicitation of prostitution and three arrests for misdemeanor prostitution, the press release said. Two females were also contacted and identified as possible victims of human trafficking. List of the individuals who were arrested was publicly released.

In January, 2023, 22 individuals were arrested on felony charges for solicitation of prostitution, five were arrested for misdemeanor prostitution, while one was made on a warrant charge. Additional charges included delivery of a dangerous drug and child endangerment. The operation also resulted in the contact of two females who were identified as possible victims of human trafficking.  The identities of all arrested sex buyers were listed in news reports. In February, 2023, a similar operation produced 18 arrests, and in March, 2023 another 10 arrests for felony solicitation.

In 2022, a 24-year-old man accused of engaging in multiple relationships with high school girls in the Lubbock, Abilene and San Angelo areas pleaded guilty to production and attempted production of child pornography could face 15 to 30 years in prison, plus five years to life of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Investigators say the man communicated with high school girls through social media and provided them with gifts, money and alcohol in exchange for sexual abuse. Law enforcement seized a 12-second video recorded on a cellphone showing one of the underage victims performing oral sex on the man, who admitted to producing the video and enticing the young girl to engage in acts of sexual abuse. The video constitutes child sexual abuse materials (CSAM, often called “child pornography” under state criminal codes), and the case also involves the exchange of sex for money or other things of value.  Court documents stated that shortly after the man connected with the victim he regularly sent her money via Venmo from Oct. 2021 to Jan. 2022, and also purchased alcohol and THC candy for the victim.

Loss of employment is also a consequence of sex buying in the city. For example, in 2006 a former pastor was fired from his position at the Mt. Vernon Methodist Church after he was charged with compelling prostitution. The former pastor reportedly approached a 21-year-old woman last August while on a trip to Kenya and offered to bring her to the U.S. so she could attend college. According to reports, upon the woman’s arrival in Texas, the former pastor began demanding the her to engage in sex with him in exchange for financing her college education. According to officers, “He did not begin making demands until she was already here in Texas.” Investigations found that the pastor had falsified personal information to pass a background check before being hired as a pastor. Additionally, an International Student Assistance Fund was established at the First Baptist Church in Levelland to help the woman continue pursuing her nursing degree. The former pastor was arrested and charged with compelling prostitution and was held at the Hockley County Jail on a $150,000 bond at the time of reports. As a result of the investigation and subsequent arrest, the offender was immediately fried from his position at the church. Officials continued to investigate the former pastor throughout 2006 and by February of 2007, the former pastor faced over 40 felony charges including money laundering, fraud, and compelling prostitution.