City of San Lu is Obispo, Police Department, 1042 Walnut Street, San Lu is Ob ispo, CA, 93401-2729, 805.781.7317, sloci ty .org

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MEDIA RELEASE

WHAT: HUMAN TRAFFICKING/PROSTITUTION STING OPERATION

WHERE: SAN LUIS OBISPO PISMO BEACH ARROYO GRANDE

WHEN: October 21, 22, 23

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Sgt. Kurt Hixenbaugh (805) 781-7317

In an effort to suppress human trafficking for sex and acts of prostitution in our local

communities, a multi-agency collaborative effort was formulated to target this industry which

has had a noticeable increase in our local hotels/motels. The use of the internet and ease of

mobile communication has made it very easy to solicit the services of prostitutes.

Prostitution may be seen by some as a “victimless crime”. In recent times our communities have

experienced the use of underage females by “pimps” to engage customers in acts of sex in order

to make money to continue in a lifestyle of criminal behavior. Often these underage females are

held against their will and are coerced into services through force, fear and retaliation if they do

not perform. Often acts of prostitution are accompanied by the use and sales of narcotics, acts of

violence to include serious assaults and robbery and the trafficking of stolen property.

Additionally, those engaged in these encounters are exposed to transmittable diseases creating an

additional public health and safety concern.

The San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, and Arroyo Grande Police Departments joined together for a

three night operation targeting the prostitution industry and the crimes associated with this

adverse behavior. Both male and female undercover police officers were used to identify and

arrest prostitutes and their customers, commonly referred to as “Johns”.

The intent of this operation was three-fold:

1) Identify and arrest Human Traffickers in the act of providing prostitutes to undercover

officers.

2) Arrest freelance prostitutes in an effort to discourage them and others from providing their

illegal services in our cities.

3) Arrest customers, or “Johns”, in an effort to discourage them and future customers

from soliciting the services of prostitutes.

Over the three night operation, 37 arrests were made. All were booked into SLO County Jail on a

charge of violating PC 647(b)- Solicitation of Prostitution. Two of the suspects had additional

charges of H&S 11377(a)- Possession of Methamphetamine, and H&S 11364.1(a)- Possession of

Drug Paraphernalia. The arrestees are as follows :

10/21/14 IN PISMO BEACH

YONAS T. YOHANNES CONRADO C. GALINDREZ

San Luis Obispo Santa Maria

REY JAMES DIAZ VICTOR MANUAL LABRA

Los Osos Arroyo Grande

VALENTIN HERNANDEZ DIANA MARIE WILLIAMS

Santa Maria North Highlands

NICHOLAS JACKSON RYAN ELAINE COOK

San Jose Bakersfield

JESUS RIVERA MORALES KRISTIAN OLIVER LOWES

Grover Beach San Luis Obispo

BRENT JAMES SPEARS RAVEN M. ERNO

Bakersfield San Luis Obispo

COREY JAMES CLARK JOSE ANGEL LARA

San Luis Obispo Paso Robles

10/22/14 IN ARROYO GRANDE

WALTER R. THOMAS JOSEPH PAUL NOCCHI

Lompoc Paso Robles

MARISSA R. DAVIS THOMAS JONES

Fresno San Luis Obispo

REYNALDO VASQUEZ RAUL HERNANDEZ

Grover Beach Los Osos

MARIO ALCALA RICHARD ALAN BERG

Shell Beach San Luis Obispo

SERGIO ANGEL ESPINOZA CARLOS GAMBOA

Santa Maria Santa Maria

10/23/14 IN SAN LUIS OBISPO

ZIAUDDIN SYED DYLAN CARTER

San Luis Obispo Templeton

AURELIO M. OROPEZA CARLOS RAMIREZ ESTRADA

San Luis Obispo Cambria

JESSICA MARIE SERNA PRAKASH BUHLA PATEL

San Luis Obispo Cambria

DAVID IRBIN BAHNER FAITH ERRIN MURRAY

Pismo Beach Fresno

ERICA DARLENE RAMIREZ JOSE ALBERTO ROJAS

Fresno Santa Maria

JOSE PERALTA TORRES MARK CANO

Santa Maria San Luis Obispo

THOMAS J. CALLAHAN