Austin Police bust human trafficking ring - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Austin Police say they've busted a human trafficking ring in downtown Austin.

While visitors to Austin were checking in and out of the La Quinta Inn located at 11th Street, police say four women were being held in drug-induced states in rooms on the fourth floor.

Austin Police found out about the operation on Tuesday when two of the women ages 18-25 told a John what was going on. He let them out in Round Rock and they called police.

The girls told officers they were taken from Houston last Friday. Both say they were drugged, beaten and forced to walk 6th Street to find Johns to sleep with for money.

The two other girls involved were from Florida. They told officers they were taken around the country to states including Texas, Louisiana and New York.

They told police not only were their lives threatened, but also the lives of their family members.

"One of the victims had two kids in Houston and that was part of one of the threats that was used against her. That if she didn't do what she was told, they would kill her kids and kill her. The pimp dropped the kids off at a babysitter of his choice. We verified through our investigation where that house was in Houston. We were able to get the FBI to help us with that and we were able to find the two children who were being kept in this house in Houston," said APD Lt. Jerry Gonzalez.

Charged are 26-year-old Rebecca Chap, Demetrick Cooks and Solomon Pate. They are being held on $500,000 bonds.

Police say federal charges may follow for taking the victims across state lines.

Police say this investigation is not over. They did find another woman associated with the group. She too, may be a victim.