August 2023

In a chilling tale of online interactions gone awry, an Oakland man’s response to a babysitting ad led to horrifying consequences. The man, identified as 30-year-old Lennard Davis, faces charges of human trafficking, child molestation, assault, and child pornography after allegedly abusing and trafficking three teen girls, ages 13 to 15. The incident came to

In a pivotal move to combat child trafficking, Fresno emerges as a catalyst for change in state law. Debra Rush, CEO of Breaking the Chains, emphasizes the alarming growth of human trafficking affecting youth aged 12 to 25. Addressing a round table discussion on Fresno child trafficking, Rush reveals the pressing need for action to

In a major joint operation in Oxnard, Silvia Diaz, 51, the owner of VIP Therapy Massage, was arrested on charges of human trafficking, pimping, pandering, and money laundering, as reported by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Diaz’s spa, located on West Fourth Street, Oxnard, has been accused of commercial sex solicitation. Collaborating on this extensive

Brooklyn’s federal court ruled on Wednesday that royalties exceeding $500,000, accrued by R. Kelly, will be garnished to settle payments for his sex trafficking victims. Universal Music Group (UMG), having retained these funds since Kelly faced charges for sex trafficking and child pornography in multiple cities, has been directed to remit $520,549. Initially, both UMG

Prominent US hotel chains have been implicated in decades-long sex-trafficking activities, reveals an investigation by The New Yorker and Berkeley Journalism’s Investigative Reporting Program.  Over 60% of surveyed victims disclosed they experienced sex trafficking in hotels. Notably, a survivor named Anastasia detailed being trafficked at a Howard Johnson hotel in Pennsylvania. The hotel’s manager and

Zephaniah “Zephi” Trevino, once a thriving student and athlete, has been sentenced to 12 years for murder and aggravated robbery. The incident occurred in August 2019 at a Grand Prairie apartment, where Carlos Murillo, 24, was fatally shot. Zephi’s parents allege that Phillip Baldenegro, the main suspect, was trafficking their 16-year-old daughter for sex. Baldenegro,

Tony Eldridge, 42, from Maple Valley, has been arrested on charges related to sex trafficking and the exploitation of a minor. According to the Bellevue Police Department, the investigation began after officers rescued a 15-year-old girl on July 1, who reported being coerced into sex work by Eldridge at his residence. The teenager informed the

Rigoberto Hernandez Latin, 44, and Maria Olimpia Hernandez, 33, of Phelan, California were apprehended on allegations of human trafficking, child abuse, and various other related crimes. This follows a comprehensive investigation carried out in July by the Specialized Investigations Division-Crimes Against Children Detail and the Victor Valley sheriff’s office. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department