Human Trafficking Sting in California Nets 339 Arrests

Nearly fifty victims of human trafficking were rescued this week after a three-day sting across California netted 339 arrests, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Fourteen minors, some as young as 13, were among the victims rescued. One case involved a child as young as six-years-old, authorities added. The victims were either runaways or found by the human traffickers through social media and chat sites online. Ninety-three task forces and teams from across the state participated in the operation, sheriff's officials said at a news conference.

Sheriff officials say "Operation Reclaim and Rebuild" was focused on arresting the pimps who had put their victims up for sale as well as individuals who were soliciting sex from underage teenagers. L.A. County Sheriff's Assistant Chief Maria Gutierrez told reporters about some of the dramatic stories of rescues and arrests

In one case, a 30-year-old adult man seen sexually assaulting a 6-year-old child in multiple videos was found and arrested within 24 hours after authorities discovered the clips. The suspect was on felony probation and had a warrant for an unrelated offense, Gutierrez said.

Another case involved a 17-year-old girl and her 14-year-old sister who were lured to a home in Fresno. When they arrived, the two teens were forced to prostitute themselves under the threat of violence. The man who had lured the 17-year-old with the promise of a relationship reportedly 'sold' the girls to another pimp for $6,000 just a few days later.

Both victims were tracked down by law enforcement and rescued. The suspect who lured the two teenagers was located and taken into custody.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline said that 6,244 casts of sex trafficking were reported in 2017. January is officially recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

The 24-hour national hotline for victims of human trafficking is 888-373-7888.


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