What is Prostitution in Texas?
Prostitution in Texas is the act of offering or agreeing to receive money in exchange for sexual conduct. Under Texas Penal Code § 43.02, you can be charged even if no sex act ever occurs. The agreement alone is enough. For a first offense, prostitution is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Many people assume an actual sex act must take place to face charges. That’s wrong. Texas law makes the offer or agreement itself illegal. If you discussed exchanging money for sex, even over text message, you can be arrested and charged.
How Do Fort Worth Prostitution Stings Work?
Law enforcement agencies across North Texas run undercover sting operations with increasing frequency. These operations have moved almost entirely online. Officers post fake ads on escort websites and apps, then arrest anyone who agrees to pay for sex.
In November 2025, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office conducted a two-day sting at a Fort Worth hotel that resulted in 20 arrests. FOX 4 was granted rare behind-the-scenes access to the operation, which involved investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety and Arlington Police Department.
Here’s how these stings typically unfold: Undercover officers posing as women post advertisements offering specific sex acts for specific prices. Texas law requires this specificity to meet the legal definition of solicitation. Once a potential buyer agrees to a sex act and a dollar amount via text or phone, investigators run background checks using the phone number. Officers then wait at a hotel room for the suspect to arrive.
“We need them to identify what sex act they want and also have the dollar amount exchanged,” explained Melinda Clark of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s human trafficking unit during the November 2025 operation.
Commander Kevin Turner, who leads Tarrant County’s human trafficking team, said investigators often communicate with hundreds of potential buyers during a single operation, even if only a fraction actually show up. Those who do arrive are arrested immediately upon entering the room. Some attempt to flee or resist.
Where Are Police Conducting Online Stings?
Gone are the days when undercover officers worked street corners. Today, law enforcement monitors the same websites and apps where escorts advertise. Police actively post fake ads and respond to real ones on platforms including ListCrawler, Escort Directory, Adult Search, and their associated domains like Escort Alligator.
Officers also conduct stings on social media and dating apps. Whisper, Snapchat, Facebook, Tinder, Bumble, Plenty of Fish, OkCupid, and Grindr have all been used in law enforcement operations. Some agencies have even created profiles on verification websites like ECCIE, P411, and The Erotic Review to appear more legitimate.
ListCrawler has essentially replaced Craigslist and Backpage as the primary platform for escort advertising. It aggregates listings from various sources, including Cheepo’s List and Escort Babylon. Law enforcement knows this and targets the platform heavily. The person responding to an ad or waiting in that hotel room may very well be a police officer.
What Does a Prostitution Charge Look Like Today?
A modern prostitution case rarely involves a street corner. Instead, it looks like this text exchange:
If you need that translated:
“I saw you online. How much for a 30-minute session?”
“$150”
“How much for an hour with the girlfriend experience?”
“$450”
“That’s great. Where can I meet you?”
That conversation alone is enough to support felony solicitation charges. No meeting required. No money exchanged. No sexual contact. Just the agreement.
Who Gets Arrested in Prostitution Stings?
The November 2025 Fort Worth sting illustrated how these arrests cut across demographics. Those taken into custody included a church sign-language interpreter and multiple men with families. At least one person, according to investigators, intended to take a woman to a truck stop to be trafficked. Several also faced additional charges for drug possession or resisting arrest.
“This is occurring every day,” Commander Turner told FOX 4. “It’s unimaginable how much there is out there.”
Turner emphasized that human trafficking doesn’t fit common misconceptions about foreign victims or organized crime rings. “The majority of our victims, especially when it comes to sex trafficking, were born and raised here locally,” he said. “The traffickers are born and raised here locally. Our buyers are born and raised here locally.”
Recent Prostitution Stings in North Texas
Sting operations occur regularly throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Here’s a timeline of recent operations:
- November 2025: 20 arrested in Fort Worth by Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Texas DPS, and Arlington Police
- March 2024: 21 arrested in Tarrant County for solicitation of prostitution
- December 2023: 11 men arrested in Denton County
- August 2023: 15 men arrested in Plano
- April 2023: 42 men arrested in Lake Worth
- October 2021: 115 men arrested in Tarrant County
The Tarrant County human trafficking unit was formed in 2021 and has ramped up operations since. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to North Texas, law enforcement agencies are preparing for what they expect will be increased demand.
Can an Undercover Cop Touch You?
There’s a persistent myth that you can identify an undercover officer because police aren’t allowed to touch you. This is false. Officers can and do make physical contact during undercover operations when necessary to maintain their cover.
While it’s uncommon for an officer to touch someone sexually or display genitalia, it has happened. Courts have generally permitted this contact when it serves to maintain the undercover persona, provided it doesn’t cross into entrapment. Entrapment occurs when law enforcement induces someone to commit a crime they wouldn’t have otherwise committed. Physical contact alone doesn’t constitute entrapment, but using it to provoke a crime could.
5 Myths About Prostitution Charges in Texas
Myth 1: Police officers must admit they’re police if you ask. Officers will lie. They will say “no” when asked if they’re in law enforcement. This doesn’t limit their ability to arrest you or file charges.
Myth 2: Using coded language protects you from arrest. Phrases like “around the world,” “half and half,” “full service,” or “100 roses” don’t provide legal cover. Officers simply note in their reports what these terms mean. Using “donation” instead of “payment” changes nothing.
Myth 3: Prosecutors go easy on first-time offenders. Texas prosecutors see thousands of prostitution cases annually. In 2019 alone, there were 2,320 misdemeanor and 2,827 felony prostitution cases filed statewide. Many defendants are first-time offenders. Prosecutors don’t find this argument compelling.
Myth 4: No money exchanged means no case. Texas law criminalizes the agreement, not the transaction. You can be convicted without ever handing over cash or engaging in any sexual contact.
Myth 5: No sexual contact means no case. Same principle. The agreement itself is the crime. Whether you showed up, paid, or had any physical contact is irrelevant to whether you can be charged.
How Do Police Track Online Prostitution Activity?
Law enforcement uses sophisticated methods to investigate online prostitution. The nonprofit DeliverFund, which provided technology and data support during the November 2025 Fort Worth sting, helps investigators manage multiple undercover identities simultaneously. “It gets busy sometimes,” said DeliverFund’s Alisha Willemssen. “Keeping track of who is talking to whom” prevents investigative overlap.
When officers identify suspicious activity, they can trace IP addresses to determine a user’s approximate location and internet service provider. With a subpoena or court order, they can obtain subscriber information from the ISP, including names and billing addresses. This information supports search warrants, which officers often execute in early morning hours to catch suspects off guard and prevent evidence destruction.
What is the Punishment for Prostitution in Texas?
Under Texas Penal Code § 43.02, prostitution penalties increase with prior convictions:
| Offense | Classification | Jail Time | Maximum Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| First offense | Class B Misdemeanor | Up to 180 days | $2,000 |
| One prior conviction | Class A Misdemeanor | Up to 1 year | $4,000 |
| Three or more prior convictions | State Jail Felony | 180 days to 2 years | $10,000 |
What is Solicitation of Prostitution in Texas?
Solicitation of prostitution is the buyer’s crime. It’s offering to pay for sex rather than offering to sell it. Since September 1, 2021, solicitation has been a felony in Texas, carrying harsher penalties than prostitution itself. This change was part of sweeping legislation targeting human trafficking.
All 20 men arrested in the November 2025 Fort Worth sting faced felony solicitation charges, which carry up to two years in state jail for a first offense.
| Solicitation Offense | Classification | Prison Time | Maximum Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| First offense | State Jail Felony | 180 days to 2 years | $10,000 |
| One prior conviction | Third-Degree Felony | 2 to 10 years | $10,000 |
| Minor involved (under 18) | Second-Degree Felony | 2 to 20 years | $10,000 |
The minor enhancement applies regardless of whether the defendant knew the person’s age, believed they were under 18, or was simply told the person was under 18.
What is Promotion of Prostitution (Pimping)?
Under Texas Penal Code § 43.03, promotion of prostitution occurs when someone receives money from prostitution proceeds or solicits a person to engage in sexual conduct with a third party for compensation. This is commonly called “pimping.”
Promotion of prostitution is a third-degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. If the person being promoted is under 18, the charge elevates to a second-degree felony (2 to 20 years) regardless of whether the defendant knew the person’s age.
What is Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution?
Anyone who owns, invests in, finances, controls, supervises, or manages a prostitution enterprise using two or more prostitutes commits aggravated promotion of prostitution. This is a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
What is Online Promotion of Prostitution?
Texas added online promotion of prostitution to the Penal Code in 2019 in response to websites facilitating sex trafficking. The offense targets anyone who owns, manages, or operates an interactive computer service with intent to promote or facilitate prostitution.
Online promotion is a third-degree felony (2 to 10 years). It elevates to a second-degree felony (up to 20 years) if the defendant has a prior conviction or the enterprise involves someone under 18. If the online enterprise involves five or more people, charges can reach aggravated online promotion, a second-degree felony that becomes a first-degree felony (up to 99 years) with prior convictions or minors involved.
Can Arrests Alone Stop Prostitution?
Advocates say no. The Fort Worth nonprofit The Net works with trafficking survivors and also offers resources to men arrested for solicitation through its MASE (Men Against Sexual Exploitation) program.
“We know that just the threat of arrest or jail time alone is not going to keep them from doing this again,” said Ty Bowden, The Net’s associate director. “We want to get at the root of what’s bringing them here.”
The program aims to reduce repeat offenses by addressing underlying behaviors rather than relying solely on criminal penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be charged with prostitution if no sex act occurred?
Yes. Texas law criminalizes the agreement to exchange money for sex. No physical contact or payment is required for charges to be filed.
Is solicitation of prostitution a felony in Texas?
Yes. Since September 1, 2021, solicitation of prostitution is a state jail felony for first-time offenders, punishable by 180 days to 2 years in state jail and up to $10,000 in fines.
Do undercover officers have to tell me they’re police?
No. Officers can and will lie about their identity during undercover operations. Asking if someone is a cop provides no legal protection.
What’s the difference between prostitution and solicitation?
Prostitution is offering to sell sex for money. Solicitation is offering to buy it. Solicitation carries felony penalties; first-offense prostitution is a misdemeanor.
Can using code words protect me from prosecution?
No. Terms like “donation,” “roses,” “around the world,” or “full service” are well known to law enforcement and prosecutors. Officers document what these phrases mean in their reports.
Call a Fort Worth Prostitution Defense Attorney
A prostitution or solicitation charge carries consequences beyond potential jail time. A conviction creates a permanent record that can affect employment, housing, and relationships. Many people arrested in sting operations had no criminal history and never expected to face felony charges.
If you’ve been charged with prostitution or solicitation in Fort Worth, Dallas, or anywhere in North Texas, speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. Our team has represented numerous clients facing sex crime allegations and understands how to challenge these cases effectively. We handle every case with discretion and will fight aggressively to protect your future.
Call today for a free consultation.
