How Bedbugs Revealed A Human Trafficking Ring In Texas
Princeton, Texas, has always been a quiet town, but that changed when a mysterious two-story brick house on Ginsburg Lane became the center of a shocking investigation. It all started when bedbugs invaded the neighborhood.
A local pest control company was called to treat the house, but what the technician found was more than just a bug problem. He was met by young men who guided him through the home, where he saw three to five women sleeping on the floor in each bedroom. The rest of the house was filled with suitcases, folding tables, and air mattresses—no real furniture in sight.
The technician's tip to the police led to a discovery that no one in Princeton could have imagined. Inside the house were 15 women, all between the ages of 23 and 26. Four men—Santhosh Katkoori, Dwaraka Gunda, Chandan Dasireddy, and Anil Male—were arrested on charges of human trafficking.
According to arrest affidavits, the women believed they were in internships to learn Java scripting and computer programming. They would apply for jobs, but their salaries were funneled to a company run by Katkoori and Gunda, which took a 20% cut.
"It's very new to us, so we're working through it," said Lt. Jesus Rodriguez. This is Princeton's first human trafficking case, and the Department of Homeland Security is assisting with the investigation, examining seized laptops, phones, and fake documents.
Police believe this is part of a larger operation with potentially over 100 victims and more homes in the area involved. The future of the victims is uncertain, as it will be up to the courts to decide their fate.
The suspects have been released on bond, and Katkoori has requested permission to travel for business while awaiting trial, with a hearing set for mid-July.
These 28 Texas Children All Between 13 and 17 Years Old Vanished
Gallery Credit: dpatrick