Prostitution and human-trafficking sting nets 23 arrests
California police have arrested 23 men and women in a human-trafficking and prostitution sting.
Officials say that a three-month investigation of the website stockton.backpage.com led the Stockton Police Department to eight young girls involved in prostitution. The girls ranged in age from 14 to 17. Police spokesman Joe Silva said the girls are from the Stockton area.
Police say two men, Jimmy Macias and Recardo Spivey, both 19, were arrested last week in connection with the suspected human trafficking of the girls and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. It was not immediately known whether the men have attorneys.
In a separate case, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s officers made contact with more than 200 people at a motel who they say were soliciting sexual services, both online and in person. Officials say 21 men and women were arrested Friday on suspicion of soliciting sexual services for money or loitering with the intent to solicit.
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