Texas DPS Sting Nets Eight Arrests, Including Amarillo Pastor

A Two-Day Undercover Operation Shakes Randall County

Eight people are facing charges after an undercover operation in Randall County over the weekend of June 12 and 13, when Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division Special Agents moved in. The DPS operation resulted in eight arrests for solicitation of prostitution, with two of those arrested facing additional charges for weapons or drugs. All eight were booked into the Randall County Jail.

The sweep drew attention not just for the number of arrests, but for who was among those caught. An Amarillo pastor, David Ritchie, 42, was charged with solicitation of prostitution — one of eight men arrested during the undercover operation conducted by DPS on Friday and Saturday. Ritchie had been the pastor of Redeemer Christian Church since 2011. He is also a former instructor of religion at West Texas A&M University.

A Church Left Reeling

Ritchie's bio was removed from the church's website following the arrest. He had been the speaker during the church's service as recently as June 7. The arrest sent shockwaves through the congregation, forcing church leadership to respond swiftly and publicly.

ABC 7 News reached out to the church, and Andrew Merker told reporters on behalf of the elders that they learned about the arrest over the weekend. "He was immediately placed on leave, and our elders met Monday night to officially terminate his employment," said Merker.

A Wide Net: Suspects From Across the Country

The operation's reach extended well beyond the Amarillo city limits. The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that the undercover operation resulted in multiple arrests for solicitation of prostitution charges, including five from Amarillo. But the suspect list also included individuals from far outside Texas. Braiden Deion Sellers, 34, of Pascagoula, Mississippi, was charged with solicitation of prostitution and unlawful carry of a weapon, while Travis Jordan Brooks, 35, of Clermont, Florida, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.

Among the Amarillo residents arrested were William Theodore Bradley, 47; Jorge Luis Lopez-Najera, 24; Jerry Mac Rottenberry, 53; and Kody Ray Dick, 37 — the latter also charged with possession of marijuana. John Alexander Grado-Vega, 26, of El Paso, was also among those charged with solicitation of prostitution. The geographic spread of those arrested suggests the operation may have targeted activity connected to travelers passing through the region, not just local residents.

Broader Implications for Law Enforcement in the Texas Panhandle

Undercover prostitution stings like this one are a well-established tool in Texas law enforcement's efforts to disrupt commercial sex activity and, in many cases, uncover broader networks of human trafficking. The Texas DPS Criminal Investigations Division has conducted similar operations in the Amarillo area before, often partnering with local and federal agencies. The fact that this latest operation was run exclusively by DPS special agents in Randall County signals a continued and independent commitment to targeting demand — the buyers — rather than focusing enforcement solely on those offering services.

The case involving Ritchie is likely to prompt broader community conversations about accountability and trust in public figures. With the church having moved quickly to terminate his employment, and his name now permanently attached to a criminal charge, the fallout underscores how swiftly a single arrest can unravel years of public standing. As the cases move through the Randall County court system in the weeks ahead, the full legal consequences for all eight men will come into sharper focus.