FONTANA – Task force investigators tracked down a 21-year-old man suspected of using multiple female juveniles to work in the sex industry.
Marquell Deante Stewart, 21, also known as Kell the King, was arrested this week after investigators built a case to take him into custody. He is accused of exploiting several under-age girls for use in a prostitution ring.
Jose Guzman and Deputy Vanessa Lopez conducted the investigation that led them to arrest Stewart, who lived in an apartment complex at 9045 Chantry Avenue on Wednesday.
Investigation discovered that the victims were forced to work in various places around San Bernardino County and in Pomona, which is located in neighboring Los Angeles County.
Guzman and Lopez, working for the task force designed to identify and investigate criminal enterprises that use underage victims for use in the sex trade industry.
“In recent years,” according to authorities, “it has been acknowledged that many of the perpetrators of sex trafficking violations are actually being forced into the lifestyle and are, in fact, victims.”
The San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force is set up to prosecute violators that are committing crimes. Part of the goal is also to help rescue and rehabilitate victims associated with those activities.
Stewart is facing multiple counts of pimping, pandering, sexual exploitation of a minor, and human trafficking, according to jail records.
Currently held on a $1 million bail, Stewart has been assigned a September 27 date at San Bernardino Superior Court.
