Federal Agents Raid Trophy Club Home In Child Exploitation Case
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TROPHY CLUB (CBS11) - A federal investigation into child exploitation came right to a quiet street in Trophy Club Tuesday morning.
Neighbors woke up to the sounds of a police raid and the sight of their street blocked off. They heard flash bangs, and saw investigators break through a window and fence.
The activity focused on a home on Alamosa Drive, where with the help of Trophy Club police, special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant as part of a child exploitation investigation.
The investigation falls under Operation Predator, which includes cases of possession or production of child pornography, sex tourism and sex trafficking overseas.
Authorities would not confirm the name of the person arrested, or what evidence they found, citing an ongoing investigation.
A friend of the family who lives at the home says a couple's adult son was taken into custody and his cell phone was taken by agents.
Jasmine Paul says despite the arrest, she finds it hard to believe that the man is guilty.
"As you know, technology today, anybody can mess with a phone and anyone can have the wrong kind of friends around them. It's just not like him. Not at all," she said.
She says the family is heartbroken by the arrest.
It's a sentiment echoed by neighbors who know them, and describe the family as lovely and welcoming – not suspicious at all, according to one neighbor.
"I really feel like it's a misunderstanding. We're going to figure it out. Stay close to God and stay together," Paul said, who added that the man arrested is an employee with her at a company called Excel Building Service.
Neighbors in Trophy Club say they've never seen an investigation like this in the town before.
"Everybody considers this one of the safest places in the Metroplex," said Carl Megow, who lives nearby.
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