Authorities arrested six people and detained and interviewed 31 others as potential victims after a three-month investigation into suspected labor trafficking in Johnson County, according to local prosecutors.
The Johnson and Somervell Counties District Attorney’s Office said the coordinated enforcement operation involved the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Burleson Police Department, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Texas Financial Intelligence Center.
Authorities said investigators encountered large amounts of cash, luxury vehicles and other expensive items they considered consistent with money laundering. Officials have not publicly disclosed how much money investigators found, what property authorities seized, or where investigators located the property.
Johnson County Jail records show Naideng Jiang, also known as “Danny,” entered custody on October 2. Jail records listed charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and participating in racketeering or unlawful debt collection.
Jail records listed Jiang’s bonds at $500,000 on the organized criminal activity charge and $400,000 on the racketeering charge. An arrest or criminal charge is not evidence of guilt, and the law presumes a defendant is innocent unless prosecutors prove guilt.
Investigators also identified Wenquin Lu, also known as “Wendy,” as a person they are still seeking in connection with the investigation. Authorities have not publicly identified the other five people arrested.
Officials said investigators detained and interviewed 31 additional people as potential victims. Authorities have not publicly specified the type of labor at issue, where the suspected trafficking allegedly occurred, or what conduct investigators believe the potential victims were compelled to perform.
The investigation remains active, and prosecutors said additional enforcement actions could follow. The district attorney’s office said it would not answer additional questions or issue further statements while the investigation continues, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
The Dallas Express previously reported on a separate 2024 North Texas labor trafficking investigation in which Princeton police said they found 15 adult women at a home who were alleged victims. That case is unrelated to the Johnson County investigation described here.
Anyone with information about the Johnson County case can contact the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office. Information about suspected human trafficking can also be reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
Provided by Dallas Express
