US: Seven Indians held in prostitution sting, including five Telugu origin from Denton, Texas

The Denton County Sheriff’s Office has arrested seven Indians in a prostitution suppression sting operation, according to a Tuesday news release.

Updated on: Aug 22, 2024, 09:47:19 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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The Denton County Sheriff’s Office has arrested seven Indians in a prostitution suppression sting operation, according to a Tuesday news release.

The arrests of Indians come after Denton County Sheriff's Office carried out a prostitution suppression sting operation.

The arrests come after Denton County Sheriff's Office carried out a prostitution suppression sting operation. One person has been charged with soliciting a juvenile.

Eighteen males from North Texas were taken into custody as a consequence of the sting operation, which was designed to reduce the number of prostitutes in Denton County, the Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, as per Denton Record Chronicle. The Highland Village Police Department provided support for the operation.

Telugu origin arrested individuals have been identified as Nikhil Bandi, Monish Galla, Nikhil Kummari, Jaikiran Mekala and Karthik Rayapati. The charges filed against them include evading arrest and solicitation of prostitution.

Out of the 18 people, two people were detained on suspicion of soliciting prostitution from minors. Three individuals were taken into custody for avoiding arrest, and two others were accused with possessing guns illegally.

Requesting the services of a prostitute for someone under the age of eighteen is a second-degree crime, while solicitation of prostitution is a state jail felony, according to the state law. Illegal carrying of a firearm and dodging arrest or detention are Class A misdemeanors.

Following the operation, the Sheriff's Office's Human Trafficking Unit is currently investigating into other individuals who may be involved in prostitution.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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