To combat human trafficking, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office has effectively shut down a high-end residential brothel operating in Thousand Oaks and has linked the victims to critical support services. The Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force spearheaded this operation, acting on community tips regarding suspicious activities at a residence.
Detectives from the Special Crimes Unit started to investigate the residence on Camino Manzanas after receiving an April tip-off. Their efforts culminated in November when they served a search warrant and, according to a news release, they found evidence of commercial sexual activities. They arrested Jian Hu, a 35-year-old resident of Monterey Park, on suspicion of pimping, following the discovery that she appeared to significantly benefit financially from the operations at the location.
In their action, detectives identified two adult females as potential victims of human trafficking. As reported by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, these women were promptly connected with essential local victim services providers.
Following Hu's arrest, she was charged under California Penal Code Section 266h and booked into Ventura County Sheriff’s Main Jail. Hu managed to quickly secure her release from custody after posting the scheduled $20,000 bail. The entire operation aligns with the Task Force's mission to aggressively pursue and ultimately eradicate human sex and labor trafficking within Ventura County and, by requisite collaboration, beyond its borders.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has extended its gratitude toward the locals for their vigilant eye and willingness to report misdoings, which significantly contributes to the community's safety. The Office encourages citizens to remain engaged in their community's well-being by following the Sheriff's updates on Nixle and social media platforms like X and Instagram for the latest advisories and safety information.
