After a months-long multi-agency operation, six people in Johnson County have been arrested in connection to a human labor trafficking ring.
The investigation culminated in a coordinated enforcement operation involving the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Burleson Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and multiple federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Texas Financial Intelligence Center.
Authorities said investigators also encountered large amounts of cash, luxury vehicles and other expensive items that they believe could be consistent with money laundering. Officials have not disclosed the amount of cash involved, what property was seized or where the items were found.
One of the people arrested was identified as Naideng Jiang, also known as “Danny.” Johnson County jail records show Jiang was booked Oct. 2 on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and participating in racketeering or unlawful debt collection.
Jiang’s bond was set at $500,000 on the organized criminal activity charge and $400,000 on the racketeering charge, according to jail records. The charges are allegations, and Jiang is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Investigators are also looking for Wenquin Lu, known as “Wendy,” who authorities identified as being connected to the investigation. Officials have not publicly released the identities of the other five people arrested.
In addition to the arrests, authorities detained and interviewed 31 people whom investigators identified as potential victims of labor trafficking.
Officials have not provided details about the type of labor at the center of the investigation, where the alleged trafficking took place or what investigators believe the potential victims were being compelled or coerced to do.
The lack of publicly released details comes as the investigation remains active. Prosecutors have said additional enforcement actions could take place as investigators continue working the case. The district attorney’s office has declined to provide additional information while the investigation is ongoing.
The case follows an earlier stage of the investigation in which authorities executed search warrants at multiple locations in North Texas. Officials previously said evidence was collected from locations in Fort Worth, Burleson and Mansfield, although details surrounding those searches were not initially released.
Information about suspected human trafficking can also be reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
