Undercover Human Trafficking Task Forces Rescue 15-year-old Victim, Arrest Trafficker
Photo: Christina Lister
ONTARIO – A joint effort by multiple area Human Trafficking Task Forces saved a young victim and took down her trafficker this past week.
The San Bernardino County Task Force initiated an undercover operation to contact and rescue a possible minor victim on February 26.
Information provided by Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force Investigators gave quick response to a motel on the 1400 block of East 4th Street. The investigation revealed an Internet escort advertisement – featuring the possible minor for the purposes of prostitution.
During the undercover operation, task force investigators encountered a second female who was believed to be possibly involved with the victim. Officers from Ontario PD assisted Task Force members to contact and detain an anonymous 15-year-old minor.
The second female was detained and later ID’d as Christina Lister (27) of Hemet. Continued investigation determined that the minor was indeed a victim of the commercial sex industry, actively being trafficked by Lister.
Rescuers brought in ambulance transport for hospital evaluation of the confidential minor. She was safely released into the custodial hands of San Bernardino County Department of Family Services.
Suspect Lister was interviewed by Investigators at Rancho Cucamonga PD and later arrested. She was booked at West Valley Detention Center for the felonies of Pandering and Human Trafficking of a Minor. Bail is set at $150,000.
The San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force is a collaboration of investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, San Bernardino Police Department, Ontario Police Department, Redlands Police Department, California State Parole, Office of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Investigators believe there are other unidentified victims related to this case. Anyone with information related to this ongoing investigation is urged to call the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force at (909) 387-8400. To remain anonymous, call We-Tip 1-888-78-CRIME or leave information on the WE-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.
