12 arrested in Midland prostitution sting

MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- 12 people were arrested last week as part of a prostitution sting aimed at ending human trafficking.

The sting, called Operation Independence, began on July 11, with agents from the Midland County Sheriff’s Office, Midland Police Department, Midland ISD, Odessa Police Department, and investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety all taking aim at men soliciting sex for payment via various websites.

Those arrested include:

• Austin Brown, 23, of Odessa
• Nebraska Draughter, 53, of Midland
• Adrian Granado, 20, of Midland
• Orland McNeely, 42, of Midland
• Carter Morris, 29, of Midland
• Ariel Curbelo, 47, of Midland
• Swade Scott, 22, of Ingleside
• Adam Poore, 42, of Hawley
• Martin Schmidt, 59, of Midland
• Tyrand Williams, 38, of Midland
• Nicolas Vela, 24, of Corpus Christi
• Austin Ott, 28 (address not listed)

All were 12 were charged with Solicitation of Prostitution, a state jail felony, and were booked into the Midland County Detention Center without incident.

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