The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Houston woman on a child trafficking charge after a multi-agency investigation that began with the disappearance of two young victims in 2024.
On December 3, deputies apprehended 28-year-old Shiann Hutchins in Houston, acting on a warrant related to a felony charge of trafficking a child. She continues to be incarcerated in Montgomery County.
In July 2024, the investigation was initiated following reports concerning the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman, who are feared to be victims of sex trafficking. The VICE Unit of the Sheriff’s Office, working with agents from Homeland Security, pinpointed a phone number linked to the juvenile and initiated an undercover sting operation.
Officers subsequently organized a meeting involving the exchange of sex for money at a hotel in Montgomery County, where they successfully located and recovered both missing victims. Authorities reported that they promptly provided support services and resources to the teenager and young woman.
The Organized Crime Division of the Sheriff’s Office diligently advanced the case in the ensuing months, ultimately pinpointing Hutchins as the alleged mastermind behind the trafficking operation involving the two victims.
Authorities issued a warrant for her arrest, and investigators found Hutchins at a residence in Houston on Tuesday. Authorities reported that they apprehended her "without incident."
Sheriff Wesley Doolittle stated that the arrest exemplifies the continuous efforts to dismantle trafficking networks in the area. “This arrest highlights the steadfast dedication of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and our federal partners to dismantle human trafficking networks,” Doolittle stated. “We will persistently seek out and hold accountable those who take advantage of vulnerable children and young adults in our community.”
The investigation involved local and federal agencies, as characterized by the Sheriff’s Office as a coordinated, multi-agency effort.
Authorities are calling on individuals who may have information regarding human trafficking in the area to reach out to Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-7867.
Officials have stated that they will not provide any additional details at this moment, as the investigation is still ongoing.
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