Texas continuous trafficking of persons — Penal Code § 20A.03
Texas continuous trafficking of persons is a criminal offense under Penal Code § 20A.03. Punishment ranges depending on the specific subsection, prior-conviction enhancements, and statutory aggravators. Below: the controlling statute text, the full punishment range, common defense theories, and what to do if you have been charged in Collin, Dallas, Denton, or Tarrant County.
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Classification: 1st-degree felony with 25-year minimum
Punishment range: 25 years to life in TDCJ and up to $10,000 fine under § 20A.03(d); no parole eligibility until 30 years served under Government Code § 508.145(d); mandatory sex offender registration if predicates were sexual; immigration consequences including deportation under INA § 237
The controlling statute
Texas Penal Code § 20A.03 punishes engaging in two or more acts of human trafficking under § 20A.02 against the same or multiple victims over a 30-or-more-day period. It is one of the harshest sentencing statutes in Texas — a 1st-degree felony with a 25-year minimum and no parole eligibility for 30 years. Prosecution often parallels federal trafficking charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1591.
Classification & punishment range
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Statute | Texas § 20A.03 |
| Cluster | Violent Crimes |
| Classification | 1st-degree felony with 25-year minimum |
| Range | 25 years to life in TDCJ and up to $10,000 fine under § 20A.03(d); no parole eligibility until 30 years served under Government Code § 508.145(d); mandatory sex offender registration if predicates were sexual; immigration consequences including deportation under INA § 237 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-15 |
Elements the State must prove
To convict on a Texas § 20A.03 charge, the State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt:
- Defendant committed two or more acts of trafficking under § 20A.02
- Conduct occurred over a period of 30 days or more
- Each predicate act constituted a § 20A.02 violation in itself
- Victims may be one or more persons; identity continuity is not required
Defense strategies
L and L Law Group, PLLC develops the following defense strategies on every Continuous Trafficking of Persons case:
- No 30-day continuity — predicate acts were isolated incidents not part of a sustained pattern
- Predicate trafficking element fails — no force, fraud, or coercion as defined by § 20A.01
- Statute of limitations defense for predicate acts outside the limitations period under CCP Art. 12.01
- Affirmative defense under § 20A.02(d) for victims of trafficking themselves coerced into the predicate conduct
- Mistake of age under § 20A.02(b)(1) is unavailable when the victim was under 18 — strict liability applies
- Suppression of evidence from immigration enforcement actions exceeding statutory authority
Enhancements & collateral consequences
Section 20A.03(d) imposes a 25-year minimum and parole ineligibility until 30 years served under Government Code § 508.145(d). Habitual offender enhancement under § 12.42 can yield life with no parole. Parallel federal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 1591 carries up to life imprisonment. Forfeiture of all proceeds and instrumentalities follows under CCP Chapter 59 and 18 U.S.C. § 1594.
Key Legal Terms
- Trafficking (§ 20A.02)
- Knowingly trafficking another person by force, fraud, or coercion, including transporting, enticing, recruiting, harboring, providing, or otherwise obtaining a person for forced labor or services.
- Continuous Course of Conduct (§ 20A.03(a))
- Two or more § 20A.02 acts committed over a period of 30 days or more, regardless of whether the victims are the same person.
- Parole Ineligibility (Gov. Code § 508.145(d))
- Statutory provision that a § 20A.03 inmate must serve a minimum of 30 actual years or the full sentence before being considered for parole, without good-conduct credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between § 20A.02 trafficking and § 20A.03 continuous trafficking?
Does the 25-year minimum mean no parole?
Can I be charged if I didn't personally traffic anyone but managed others who did?
Are juvenile victims a strict-liability element?
Will Texas charges run consecutively to federal trafficking charges?
References & Authoritative Sources
About the Authors
Reggie London
Co-Founding Partner · Texas Bar No. 24043514
Reggie London co-founded L and L Law Group with a focus on federal criminal defense, complex felony defense, and TEA/SBEC matters. Licensed in Texas, admitted to TXND and TXED.
Njeri London
Co-Founding Partner · Texas Bar No. 24043266
Njeri London co-founded L and L Law Group with a focus on DWI defense, family violence cases, and juvenile defense. Licensed in Texas, admitted to TXND and TXED.
Charged with Continuous Trafficking of Persons? Talk to L and L Law Group.
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