HSI Dallas dismantles sex-trafficking, money-laundering organization

DALLAS - A three-year HSI Dallas investigation has resulted in eight federal indictments charging defendants with participating in an alleged sex trafficking and money laundering conspiracy operating out of the Paris Adult Bookstore in Dallas.

In February 2026, the North Texas Trafficking Task Force executed a coordinated enforcement operation involving multiple search warrants at the business, associated residences and a supply warehouse, and seized bank accounts connected to the investigation.

On July 22, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas announced indictments, charging each defendant with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Several defendants face additional charges, including sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandie Wade of the Violent Crimes Section and Myria Boehm of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.

Six of the eight defendants were arrested July 24 and are currently in federal custody. During the investigation, law enforcement recovered 21 firearms from the defendants. If convicted, several defendants face up to life in federal prison.

"These indictments represent a major step forward in dismantling a trafficking network that exploited adults and minors for profit," said HSI Dallas Assistant Special Agent in Charge Judy Pardo. "HSI and the North Texas Trafficking Task Force are focused on identifying traffickers, disrupting the businesses and financial systems that enable them, and ensuring victims are connected with critical support services. This case sends a clear message: Those who profit from exploitation will be investigated, arrested and brought before the courts."

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by President Trump's Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through interagency collaboration, HSTF directs federal law enforcement resources toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting crimes committed by these organizations, with particular emphasis on child trafficking and other crimes involving children.

The defendants charged in the federal indictment are:

• Aaron Tyrone Betford, 43, charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
• Montre Lamont Mason, 51, charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; and felon in possession of a firearm.
• Eileen Mason, 52, charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion; and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
• Trelynn Love Mason, 24, charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
• Larry Jones, 51, charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
• Krishenda Doss, 37, charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion; and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
• Reginald Rose, 38, charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion.
• Antonio Dario Osorio-Avelar, 23, charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking of a minor.

According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly participated in a yearslong sex trafficking and money laundering conspiracy centered around the adult bookstore. Prosecutors allege the business used its retail operation and "arcade" rooms to conceal and facilitate commercial sex activity, including the trafficking of adults and minors.

The indictment alleges that employees and others associated with the business profited from commercial sex activity by charging cash fees for access to arcade rooms used for commercial sex acts. According to court documents, commercial sex workers were required to pay a fee in exchange for a condom, personal wipes and use of an arcade room. Employees were allegedly permitted to keep leftover cash paid by commercial sex workers as "tips."

The indictment further alleges that two sex traffickers, or "pimps," caused women and minors to engage in commercial sex using the store's arcade rooms. Some commercial sex workers allegedly displayed visible injuries, including bruising, black eyes, road rash, stab wounds and other injuries, and some reportedly described assaults by traffickers.

According to court documents, conspirators financially benefited from allowing and facilitating the alleged conduct and made monetary transactions with the proceeds designed to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership and control of the proceeds, and to promote the continued operation of the alleged criminal enterprise.

The indictment also alleges that individuals working as "security" for the store were paid with illicit proceeds and were responsible for controlling customers and commercial sex workers; ensuring solicitation occurred only in certain areas of the property; preventing traffickers from lingering in the parking lot; escorting customers and commercial sex workers to arcade rooms; and reporting disturbances involving law enforcement or altercations.

"This investigation reflects the core mission of HSI identifying criminal networks, following the money, rescuing victims and working with prosecutors to hold offenders accountable," said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. "Since initiating this investigation in November 2023, the North Texas Trafficking Task Force worked with federal, state and local partners to uncover an alleged operation that used a business front to facilitate exploitation. The dedication of the agents, officers, analysts, victim assistance specialists and prosecutors involved in this case has made North Texas a safer community."

The investigation was conducted by HSI Dallas, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Dallas Police Department through HSI's North Texas Trafficking Task Force, a cross-agency task force that partners with federal, state and local law enforcement and victim service organizations to combat human trafficking in the North Texas region.

Disclaimer: An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.