TEMECULA – A total of 14 people were arrested for allegedly soliciting prostitution, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced today.
Members of the department’s Southwest Station Community Outreach
Resources Engagement Special Enforcement Team and Metro Team, in partnership
with the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and the Gang Task
Force Region Four, conducted a sting Thursday to reduce the demand for sex
trafficking in Temecula, officials said.
Law enforcement personnel placed decoy advertisements on popular
classified websites commonly used for solicitation of online prostitution and
communicated with prospective customers. After allegedly reaching an agreement
for paid sexual acts, the suspects were arrested upon their arrival at the
meeting location, the sheriff’s department reported.
During the operation, authorities contacted a woman who is believed to
be a victim of human trafficking and was possibly being forced to engage in
prostitution against her will. The identity of the victim was not released, but
sheriff’s officials said she was referred to victim services.
The ages of those arrested ranged from 20 to 54 years old.
As a result of this enforcement effort, a total of 14 people were arrested on misdemeanor prostitution charges, which are listed below:
Daniel Welker, 39, resident of Winchester
Taye Thornton, 20, resident of Murrieta
Ramon Navarrete, 37, resident of Moreno Valley
Ramon Munoz, 31, resident of Perris
Ashley Tuazon, 40, resident of Winchester
Josue Sanchez, 24, resident of Fontana
Aunzae Brooks, 26, resident of Corona
Zhanveazna Ieng, 40, resident of Murrieta
Christian Carlos, 29, resident of Nuevo
Jay Dagnenica, 54, resident of Menifee
Jayson Sherrill, 32, resident of Temecula
Bradley Dow 45, resident of Apple Valley
Eddie Embry 35, resident of Menifee
Brandyn Resendiz, 20, resident Lake Elsinore
All subjects arrested were booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
Prostitution is not a victimless crime. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that one in six endangered runaways reported are likely victims of sex trafficking. Sex trafficking victims are often subjected not only to severe forms of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of their trafficker, but are also frequently physically and sexually assaulted by those that solicit them for prostitution. Southwest Station CORE, SET, and METRO, along with the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force seek to disrupt and dismantle sex trafficking rings operating within Riverside County and will aggressively identify, pursue and apprehend those who seek to exploit those whom are most vulnerable. They will also proactively work to reduce future demand for sex trafficking by identifying and arresting sex buyers.
Report Human Trafficking activity or tips to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at (888) 373-7888
Anyone with questions about this operation can contact Deputy Delilah Hernandez with the Southwest Station CORE Team at (951) 696-3000, or via email at:Â dhernandez2@riversidesheriff.org
Authorities said one in six endangered reported runaways are likely
victims of sex tracking, and encouraged the public to report human trafficking
activity to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 888-373-
7888. Copyright 2022, City News Service, Inc.
