In a sting that has nabbed nine men, the Pomona Police Department's Special Investigations Unit has taken a hard line against the city's streets. The offenders, apprehended during an undercover operation, were caught in the act of soliciting sex workers along East Holt Avenue and Indian Hill Boulevard, the department reported.
The police posed as sex workers, a move that led to the arrest of individuals ranging from 19 to 82 years old on charges of solicitation for prostitution. Those charged include Carlos Ponce, Edwin Alberto, Jeronimo Munozpastrana, John Vazquez, Jorge Gallegos, Martin Carrillo, Jess Maldonado, Cesar Barrios, and Anthony Trinh, as per the official statement from the Pomona Police Department.
This operation is part of the Pomona Police Department's ongoing effort to crack down on human trafficking, an initiative that has seen the rescue of numerous victims. In 2022 alone, the department was able to rescue 11 juvenile victims, alongside several adults.
The Pomona Police Department urges anyone with information to come forward. Informants can contact the department directly, utilize "Crime Stoppers," or reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report anonymously.
