~ ARREST BRIEFING ~ Tara L. Guidry

On the evening of September 15, 2022, Detectives with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Offices Criminal Investigations Division and assisted by EPSO Narcotics and Patrol Divisions, and Crowley Police Department Narcotics Division, conducted a Human Trafficking Operation dubbed "Operation Cyber Watch" at a location within Evangeline Parish.

During this operation, investigators utilized online social media sites known to be used by commercial sex workers and

human traffickers to promote prostitution and the trafficking of minors for sexual purposes. During this operation, contact was made with Tara L. Guidry (w/f, dob: 11/20/1980)of Lafayette, Louisiana who had an ad posted online offering sex services in exchange for cash.

During a conversation with an undercover agent, and agreement was made for Guidry to provide two of her listed sexual services in exchange for $400 dollars cash. Once Guidry traveled from Lafayette Louisiana to the predetermined location in Evangeline Parish and once again verbally confirmed the agreement to provide sex services, she was taken into custody without incident and charged with 1 count of prostitution in violation of LA R.S. 14:83. During her arrest, it was also discovered Guidry was in possession of Schedule II CDS Crack Cocaine in violation of LA R.S. 40:967 C, and drug paraphernalia in violation of LA R.S. 40:1023. She was charged accordingly.

Guidry has an extensive criminal history to include prior arrests for prostitution, and sex trafficking of minors. Each year, thousands of people fall victim to human trafficking in the United States and the vast majority of these cases go unreported. The Acadiana area is not immune to this, and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to pursue and prosecute these offenders, recover child and adult victims, and assist with providing needed assistance to victims.

As always, Sheriff Charles R. Guillory and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office is always seeking information on criminal activity and urges the Public to contact their Investigation Department via phone at 337-363-2161 or through the agency's website at www.evangelineparishsheriff.org.  Any person reporting information will remain anonymous. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.