Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton announced Wednesday officers arrested two men for human trafficking and recovered or identified nine victims in Contra Costa County, including one juvenile.
The arrests by the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force were made as part of Operation Cross Country, a nationwide effort last month to put a dent in human trafficking.
Three separate operations took place in Contra Costa County from July 19 to Sunday, leading to the arrest of a 24-year-old man from Oakland and a 33-year-old man from Sacramento.
“This crime is a real problem here in California,” Becton said during a news conference at her Martinez office.
“Our state consistently leads all other states in reports of human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, accounting for 13 percent of all such reports in the last year,” Becton said. “Over the past four years, just five of our county’s victim service providers served over 500 victims of human trafficking here. That’s why operations across the country (are) crucial in curbing the abuses of those who prey on the vulnerable.”
Law enforcement officials didn’t identify victims or the cities in which they were found, or from where they were taken. They also said at least four other cases turned up during last month’s effort are still being investigated.
Robert Tripp, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco field office, said Operation Cross Country — now its 13th year — successfully rescued 200 victims of sex trafficking across the nation, 59 of whom were minors.
Authorities arrested more than five dozen suspected human traffickers and 126 individuals accused of child sexual exploitation and trafficking.
“Operation Cross Country was designed to find and assist all victims of human trafficking, but rescuing children has always been a top priority for the operation,” Tripp said. “These are kids, they’re living in our communities, they’re living on our streets, and they are not for sale.”
The FBI and 29 other Bay Area law enforcement agencies conducted 17 operations during the two-week period. Three adolescent victims were recovered, and another was identified. Local teams also located 17 adult victims, arrested nine suspects, and recovered three firearms.
Becton and Tripp said ongoing services will be given to the victims.
“Victims identified through these operations were offered immediate crisis intervention and support services from a dedicated team of advocates to help them begin their journey out of human trafficking,” Becton said.
It’s not clear exactly who will be charged with what and by whom, be it local, state or federal charges, Becton said. Charges will likely include sex trafficking of a minor, pimping, pandering, supervising, aiding, or recruiting a prostitute, and violating a protective order.
Anyone with information on suspected human trafficking (sex or labor) or related crimes can call their local law enforcement agency or the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office human trafficking tip line at (925) 957-8658.
21 comments
How about the Government?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGz130lPm-A
Our schools should be talking to students about human trafficing.
It’s not clear exactly who will be charged with what and by whom, be it local, state or federal charges, Becton said. That statement says it all.
She needs to go.
But but this is a right wing conspiracy…glad the victim’s have been rescued & reunited with their families.
Sorry, but the conservatives and Republicans have been pointing out this tragedy caused by the open borders! It’s the femocrats that have been claiming that the border is closed and that there’s no problems with child abuse, trafficing, gangs. crime and drugs.
I will give it to DA Becton that this was a good thing.
How about put open borders Joe on trial. Amongst the other charges.
Much of this human trafficking is due to relax immigration laws.
A person here in the States or abroad seeks a human trafficker to get a relative or themselves across the border and things don’t go as planned, thus they become victim of human trafficking.
This is only the beginning. we haven’t seen anything yet. The United States government under the Biden administration is completely and solely responsible.
They have just said that the vast majority of offenders are illegal aliens.
‘..7 Illegal Aliens Among 19 Arrested for Child Sex Crimes in Florida County’
https://tinyurl.com/4y5h55e5
How many arrests in CA involve illegals?
@OriginalG
California is a sanctuary state. Remember the Kate Steinle case?
From what I can find on it most are white and US citizens that are doing it.
But that doesn’t fit everyone’s echo chamber narrative, so shhhhh
Poor jessica, you just can seam to get anything to go your way. Of course it’s Americans doing it. That’s why we are noticing…duh. American politicians no less. Do you ever have a point?
Maybe you should rethink where you’re getting your information
I had multiple attempts of getting abducted in childhood. I had the skills necessary to defend myself / (thanks to my father – who taught me self defense – (and situational awareness)) Parents need to teach these skills to their children. We “practiced” scenarios where a van might pull up – or of someone might grab me from behind. I knew what to do – and BOTH situations happened to me in real life.
Hopefully the Feds will run the shoe. If Becton takes over, you can expect nothing but Kaos.
But Diana cares little about rampant crime in the community that affects most of us more directly. Muggers, rapists, shoplifters, drug dealers wander freely without the risk of being arrested.
Good job Diana.
Ever since the movie came out lots of stuff is being renamed as human trafficking. Gotta grab those headlines
There really needs to be an express lane for prosecuting these types of criminals. They can’t be rehabilitated, and don’t deserve a second chance anyway. Therefore they should go to the head of the line and be put in long term storage.
I don’t care, if it’s a movie or what as long as human trafficing stops. It’s a crime against woman and children and needs to stop. Maybe a song would help?
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