Restaurateur, a sheriff's deputy and a PASTOR are arrested as a prostitution sting in Texas reveals where HUNDREDS of men paying for sex acts at massage parlors

  • A Texas restaurant owner, a pastor and a former deputy were all caught up in a prostitution sting on two massage parlors in Waco 
  • Daniel Henderson, 64, the owner of Uncle Dan's Bar-B-Que & Catering in Waco
  • Stephen Johnson, 44, who was employed as a McLennan County Sheriff deputy 
  • Edward Egnacio Espinosa, 41, was a pastor at a local church were all arrested 
  • Chun Yan Zhang, 47, who ran the establishments is facing multiple human trafficking charges 

A Texas restaurant owner, a former deputy and a pastor were all arrested on prostitution charges after police raided two massage parlors in Waco.

Daniel Henderson, 64, is the owner of Uncle Dan's Bar-B-Que & Catering in Waco, he was arrested on March 1, as was Stephen Johnson, 44, who was employed as a McLennan County Sheriff deputy, before the establishments had been raided.  

Edward Egnacio Espinosa, 41, was also arrested on February 28 on the same charge. Espinosa was a pastor at a local church that had anti-human trafficking initiatives.

The McLennan County Sheriff's office has targeted prostitution in recent months and zeroed in on two massage parlors ran by the same owner, Chun Yan Zhang, 47.

Pastor Edward Egnacio Espinosa, 41
Stephen Johnson, 44

Pastor Edward Egnacio Espinosa, 41 (left) was arrested, and Stephen Johnson, 44 (right) who was employed as a McLennan County Sheriff deputy on prostitution charges

Daniel Henderson, 64
Chun Yan Zhang, 47

Daniel Henderson, 64 (left) a local resturanat owner was also arrested. Chun Yan Zhang, 47 (right) was the owner of the establishments and was charged with multiple counts of human trafficking 

Zhang was arrested once in December and again in February, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported. She is facing multiple human trafficking charges.

Police say through their undercover investigation, they have more than 300 videos of men paying for sex acts.  

Men would pay $60 for an hour-long massage and then tack on another $40 for a sex act.  

According to police, Henderson and Johnson were seen visiting the parlors multiple times. 

Johnson resigned from his position with the sheriff's office following the raid in December.  

The police say more arrests are expected in the coming weeks.

Chief Sheriff's Deputy David Kilcrease said 'We've identified several men paying for sex and we've been in contact with several attorneys for these men who are aware of the recordings,' Kilcrease said. 'We will be making additional arrests.'

In addition to the prostitution charges, Kilcrease said detectives may also receive arrest warrants charging sexual assault for some of the sex acts captured on video. He said the investigation remains ongoing.

According to the search warrants on the properties run by Zhang, the women who were working at the establishment were immigrants. 

One of the two establishments that were raided was this location where at least three women were working and living at the time of the raid 

One of the two establishments that were raided was this location where at least three women were working and living at the time of the raid 

'Through debriefs with victims, I have learned that they are not told what they will be doing until they arrive at the establishment,' an investigator wrote. 'They are routinely housed in the establishment by traffickers to save money.'

Zhang had at least three women working for her.   

'It was learned that they provide the boss with $300 a month to be able to reside within the parlor,' the affidavit states. 'They indicated that they keep 20 percent of all earnings, however the boss makes them give their whole first week as a deposit.'

 

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