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Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission removes 25 potential human trafficking victims from Houston-area bar during joint operation
HOUSTON — Agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, and Harris County District Attorney’s Office conducted a joint operation at a Houston-area bar following an investigation into allegations of prostitution and human trafficking. More than 30 agents took part in the operation at Fridas Sports Bar located at 2217 McCarty Street late Thursday. In total, TABC victim services coordinators interviewed 25 potential human trafficking victims who were present in the bar. “This operation resulted from weeks of investigation into alleged criminal activity taking place at the bar,” TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly said. “Let there be no mistake: Illegal conduct has no place in a TABC-licensed business, and we will continue to take action against any bad actors who think they can use a legitimate business as a front for their crimes.” TABC prioritizes assisting the potential victims of human trafficking in cases such as this one, TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said. “TABC’s victim services coordinators are experts at talking to individuals who have been victimized by organized crime,” he said. “Our goal is, first and foremost, to remove them from danger and to connect them with the resources they need, from medical help to counseling.” The investigation followed weeks of evidence-gathering and joint investigation by TABC and its task force partners at the local, state, and federal levels. Such partnerships are the backbone of TABC’s efforts to ensure public safety, Lilly said. “This success wouldn’t have been possible without the outstanding work and support of our partners at all levels of government,” he said. “Public safety is, by nature, a joint effort. Coordinating our efforts and supporting our partner agencies are crucial to working efficiently toward a safer Texas.” The bar remains the subject of ongoing criminal and administrative investigations by TABC, HSI, FBI, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreTexas Alcoholic Beverage Commission kicks off annual Spring Break, festival safety operation
AUSTIN — Agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) are ramping up efforts to curb underage drinking and intoxicated driving across the state as part of the agency’s annual spring break safety operation. The operation, which includes both undercover and open inspections of TABC-licensed alcohol retailers, seeks to identify businesses that violate state law by selling alcohol to people younger than 21. More than 200 TABC Enforcement agents and members of the agency’s Targeted Responsibility for Alcohol-Connected Emergencies (TRACE) unit are taking part in the effort. “Spring break is an opportunity for Texans to celebrate with some well-earned time off and support the thriving tourism and entertainment industries in our state,” TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said. “Our goal with this operation is to ensure businesses do the right thing and prevent alcohol sales that could endanger public safety.” Throughout the spring break period, TABC agents will conduct additional “minor sales investigations” at businesses in cities with colleges or universities, as well as popular destinations along Texas’s Gulf Coast and its travel corridors. During a minor sales investigation, undercover TABC agents work to identify any business selling alcohol to a minor. Visible TABC agents will also patrol popular travel destinations and festival locations, such as Austin’s SXSW music festival, to ensure retailers are complying with state law. “This operation serves a dual purpose,” Graham said. “We first and foremost want to serve as a resource that educates businesses on how to stay in compliance with state law but we also want to take corrective action to get a business back on track if that becomes necessary. In the leadup to spring break, and throughout the month of March, our agents and auditors will be available to answer questions and respond to complaints, both in popular spring break destinations and across the state.” Similar operations in past years recorded an average compliance rate over 90 percent. In total, TABC regulates more than 60,000 licensed alcohol retail locations across the state. Selling alcohol to a person younger than 21 is a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $4,000, jail time for up to one year, or both. Any business found in violation could also face a fine or possible suspension of their TABC license to sell alcoholic beverages. For more information about TABC, or to download free educational resources, visit tabc.texas.gov. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreTABC makes arrest in connection to stolen alcohol shipments
A South Texas man has been arrested by agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) on charges related to the theft of name-brand distilled spirits being shipped within the state. Mathew Tafolla, 37, was arrested Jan. 24 by TABC agents in Donna on a second-degree felony charge for theft of cargo. TABC agents were notified in July 2024 of a shipment of spirits that went missing while in transit. A joint investigation by TABC and several partnering law enforcement agencies – including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations – resulted in TABC recovering the missing inventory in Dallas in late 2024. Further investigation identified a suspect, leading to Tafolla’s arrest on Friday. TABC’s identification and arrest of Tafolla came about as part of a larger on-going investigation by the agency into multiple alcohol cargo thefts that have occurred across Texas. “Theft of alcohol inventory not only hurts the affected business, It also hurts the people of Texas who are put at risk by the unregulated sales of these products on the black market,” TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly said. “This week’s arrest is a major step forward in this ongoing case, and TABC will continue working tirelessly on this investigation until the involved parties are held accountable.” Tafolla is currently being held in the Hildalgo County Jail. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreGov. Abbott appoints M. Scott Adkins, Chad M. Craycraft to serve on Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Chad M. Craycraft to serve on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, while reappointing current Commissioner M. Scott Adkins for a second term. Craycraft, a fifth-generation Texan raised in Georgetown, is a graduate of the University of Texas and the University of Texas School of Law. He is a state government veteran who has served in multiple roles within Texas government including previous service as chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission. Craycraft currently serves as executive vice president and general counsel at Graduation Alliance, an education technology firm. Adkins, a TABC commissioner since 2019, is president of fire and security company PyroCom Systems, as well as CEO of Currey Adkins, an information technology company. A graduate of Texas Christian University, Adkins also volunteers as a board member of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Las Palmas Del Sol Hospitals. “I couldn’t be more pleased with Governor Abbott’s decision to appoint Chad Craycraft to the Commission, and I’m proud to congratulate Scott Adkins on his appointment to a second term,” TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly said. “Scott’s expertise has been crucial throughout TABC’s technology modernization efforts, and I’m certain both he and Chad Craycraft will leverage their knowledge and experience as we work together to make TABC a model state agency.” “Leaders like Commissioner Adkins and Chad Craycraft are vital to ensuring TABC continues to successfully fulfill its mission of supporting businesses and protecting our communities,” TABC Executive Director Thomas W. Graham said. “I look forward to working with them both to provide accountability and excellent service to the alcoholic beverage industry and all Texans.” Members of the Commission are appointed by the governor and serve staggered terms. The board has ultimate oversight over TABC, which is responsible for regulating all aspects of the Texas alcoholic beverage industry. Adkins and Craycraft will begin their new terms as TABC commissioners after confirmation by the Texas Senate. If confirmed, both appointees’ terms would expire on Nov. 15, 2029. Adkins will continue his service at TABC under his initial appointment until his reappointment is confirmed. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: It's time to conduct your 2025 compliance report(s)
To: Holders of BW, BB, BC, BE, BF, BG, BQ, D, G, MB, N, NB, NE, P, Q, W, and X licenses and permits Re: Required compliance reporting for TABC-licensed businesses with Texas locations has started What: You must conduct a 2025 compliance report (i.e., self-inspection) for each of your listed TABC-licensed or permitted locations in Texas if the primary license or permit was originally issued in 2023 or before. No compliance report is due in 2025 for licenses and permits originally issued in 2024 or after. Note: While the top of this email lists licenses and permits associated with your email address that must submit a 2025 compliance report, it might not list all such licenses and permits for which a compliance report is due. To view all such permits and their reporting status, log in to AIMS. Why: Compliance reporting helps us confirm that your business is following the law. Failing to file a report on time could cause a visit from TABC, an administrative warning, or suspension or cancellation of the license. When: Start and finish your compliance report(s) between Jan. 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025.
Read moreINDUSTRY NOTICE: Avoiding tier violations when using B2B e-commerce platforms
To: TABC-licensed and -permitted distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and stakeholders Re: Avoiding tier violations when using B2B e-commerce platforms TABC is aware that multiple business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platforms have entered the Texas market, and some retailers are using these platforms to place or facilitate their alcoholic beverage orders with distributors and wholesalers. The agency is also aware that some distributors and wholesalers have contracted with e-commerce platforms to serve as one of the wholesaler’s or distributor’s designated ordering platforms. This is a significant development in Texas’s alcoholic beverage industry, so I want to take this opportunity to stress to all interested parties that TABC still enforces a strict separation between the manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing levels of the industry. Members of the industry remain free to run their respective businesses as they see fit, within the confines of the law; however, a member of one tier of the industry may not manage or control the business or interests of a member of another tier. To that point, if a retailer attempted to force a distributor or wholesaler to use or accept orders from a particular e-commerce platform, that may constitute a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Code (“Code”). TABC will investigate such allegations for potential enforcement action. While e-commerce platform operators are generally not licensed by TABC, they must still abide by the Code. If a platform operator changes, redirects, or otherwise interferes with the fulfillment of an alcoholic beverage order placed by a retailer, TABC will investigate to determine if a violation occurred. TABC’s goal is to provide a healthy regulatory environment for the Texas alcoholic beverage industry to ensure public safety while also supporting businesses. The emergence of e-commerce platforms does not change that goal, and we will closely monitor how these platforms operate to help ensure the health of the industry and the safety of Texans. If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact TABC in writing at P.O. Box 13127, Austin, TX 78711; by email at marketing.practices@tabc.texas.gov; or by phone at 512-206-3411. Sincerely, Thomas W. Graham Executive Director
Read moreMeeting documents posted for Nov. 14 commission meeting
TABC has posted meeting documents to BoardDocs for the commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Central time.
Read moreAgenda posted for Nov. 14 commission meeting
Join us in person or online for a regularly scheduled meeting of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.
Read moreTABC, Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance take action against nine Houston-area bars on allegations of human trafficking, prostitution
HOUSTON — More than 200 peace officers and employees from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and other local, state, and federal agencies converged on nine Houston-area bars suspected of engaging in human trafficking during a series of operations conducted Oct. 18. The joint action resulted in TABC suspending the nine businesses’ liquor licenses, as well as the removal of 84 suspected victims from the premises. The operation is believed to be the largest such investigation of suspected human trafficking at TABC-licensed businesses in state history, according to TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly. “This operation’s success is the result of careful investigation, undercover work, and coordination between TABC and our partners in the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance,” Lilly said. “Human trafficking is a stain on our society, and it’s unfortunately more prevalent than most Texans realize. I couldn’t be prouder of our peace officers for their diligence, their willingness to work across agency lines, and their commitment to putting the safety of the victims first.” The investigation was made possible through the close working relationship between TABC and its partners in the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA), Lilly added. “All of us within the Texas law enforcement community are committed to keeping our fellow Texans safe, as well as protecting anyone who’s been victimized by human traffickers,” he said. “I believe the men and women of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance are an incredible credit to their agencies and all of Texas.” The locations’ TABC licenses were suspended as outlined in Section 11.614 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code, which authorizes the agency to suspend a business’s liquor license for up to 90 days if the commission determines “that the continued operation of a permitted or licensed business would constitute a continuing threat to public welfare.” Licenses and permits suspended during the Oct. 18 operation include: El Flamingo Club, 3715 Aldine Mail Route Koko Bongo, 955 Federal Road Los Escorpiones #2, 1636 Federal Road Los Escorpiones #5, 2815 Luell St. El Cruzero Sports Bar, 7715 W. Hardy Road Bora Bora Sports Bar, 11028 Aldine Westfield Road El Rinconcito Night Club, 743 Freeport St. La Condesa, 8810 Jensen Drive Las Margaritas Night Club, 210 E. Little York Road No alcohol may be served or sold at the locations while the businesses’ TABC licenses/permits are suspended. The case remains under investigation by TABC, the Houston Police Department, and other members of HTRA. Media Contact: Chris Porter TABC Director of Communications (512) 206-3462 media@tabc.texas.gov
Read moreAgenda posted for Oct. 3 stakeholder meeting
Join TABC staff virtually to discuss draft rules for publication on Oct. 3, 2024, 10-11 a.m. Central time. This meeting will be held by Zoom only.
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