SANTA ROSA – On Saturday the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force conducted an operation targeting men loitering with the intent to solicit prostitution. According to a Sheriff’s Office press release, the results were ten men, ages from 26 to 62, arrested and charged with solicitation. The men arrested were:
- Javier Oseguera – 41
- Jesse Lindsey – 34
- Bernardo Ramirez-Sanchez – 41
- Donato Rojas – 26
- Issac Hastings – 41
- Miguel Merino – 37
- Douglas Puetz – 62
- Kareem Moore – 27
- Christopher Crofts – 32
- Carmine Marroquin – 26, who was also charged with attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor.
Carmine Marroquin was one of 10 men arrested in the latest sweep (Facebook)
The agencies conducting this operation under the umbrella of the County Human Trafficking Task force is quite a list as well, and include in law enforcement:
- Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
- Santa Rosa Police Department Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit
- Petaluma Police Department
- Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety
- Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office
- Federal Homeland Security
Non-law enforcement organizations participating include:
- Soroptimist International Windsor
- Verity
- Crossing the Jordan
- Sonoma County Family Youth & Child Services
- Human Rights Commission
- Sonoma County Public Health
- Junior League of Napa-Sonoma
- SAY (Social Advocates for Youth)
- Redwood Children’s Center
- Commission for Status of Women
The group’s stated goal is to work collaboratively to combat human trafficking and exploitation of young children in the community. The task force, in recognition of January being the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, held a rally at the Santa Rosa Courthouse on Wednesday January 15. They have been trying to raise awareness of the dangers of human trafficking, and that children as young as 12 to 14 years old are commonly the victims lured in. The rally featured speakers such as District Attorney Jill Ravitch, County Supervisor Shirlee Zane, and others including law enforcement and victims of trafficking.
Read More:
Sonoma Index Tribune: Human trafficking rally sheds light on sex slavery
