122 Individuals arrested, 2 minors rescued in Sacramento County anti-sex trafficking sting operation

10/03/2024 / By Laura Harris

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of 122 individuals and the rescue of two minors during a massive two-day anti-sex trafficking sting operation.

The sting was codenamed “Operation FAFO” (fool around and find out) and was headed by the sheriff’s office in collaboration with the sheriff office’s special enforcement unit, the Rancho Cordova Police Department, California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Justice Human Trafficking Team and with support from trafficking victim advocacy groups Drive for Impact and the Sacramento Family Justice Center.

The sting operation involved teams of undercover officers posing as both buyers and sellers of illegal services. The information they gathered was used to identify and apprehend the 122 individuals exploiting trafficking victims for commercial sex work, with strong focus on rescuing minors. (Related: Investigative journalist: Over 85,000 unaccompanied migrant children trafficked into the U.S. have been KIDNAPPED.)

In line with this, the operation rescued two 16-year-olds who were being trafficked as prostitutes. The victims are now being provided with care and other services to help them recover and transition into a safer environment.

The arrested individuals were charged with prostitution, solicitation and trafficking. However, none of them remained in custody by Oct. 1, the day after the operation.

Prostitution and solicitation, considered misdemeanors in California, often result in citations rather than jail time. Meanwhile, human and sex trafficking are classified as felonies in the state, typically requiring suspects to post bail before release.

“This sting sends a clear message to those involved in the illegal sex trade: We are committed to protecting our community from exploitation, especially our most vulnerable,” Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said. “Human trafficking, especially the exploitation of minors, is a serious crime, and we will continue to work tirelessly to bring justice to victims.”

California intensifies crackdown on sex trafficking

In a report from 2018, Xavier Becerra, then serving as California’s attorney general and currently serving as Secretary of Health and Human Services, revealed that the Golden State is one of the top destinations in the U.S. for human trafficking.

This prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign several pieces of legislation intensifying California’s crackdown on sex trafficking and providing greater protections for victims.

Newsom signed four new bills last month, including Senate Bill (SB) 1414, which strengthens penalties for those attempting to purchase minors for sex. This bill, authored by State Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), makes it a felony to solicit a child under the age of 16. District attorneys are also granted the option to pursue felony charges for those soliciting 16- and 17-year-olds who are victims of human trafficking.

SB 963, introduced by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Natomas), mandates that hospitals with emergency departments establish protocols allowing victims of human trafficking and domestic violence to confidentially identify themselves to receive appropriate resources.

AB 202, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), requires law enforcement agencies to develop guidelines for handling interactions with human trafficking survivors to ensure that their needs and rights are prioritized.

AB 1888, sponsored by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), creates a new Labor Trafficking Unit within the California Justice Department. The unit will work alongside other agencies to track and combat labor trafficking across the state.

“Human trafficking is a disgusting and reprehensible crime that leaves lasting pain on victims and survivors,” Newsom said in September. “These new laws will help us further hold predators accountable and provide victims with the support and care they need.”

Visit Trafficking.news for more stories about human trafficking.

Watch this clip of a sheriff disclosing that 100,000 children are either with child traffickers or stuck in child abuse situations.

This video is from the Be Children of Light channel on Brighteon.com.