Alleged Pimp Wanted in Connection with Multi-Agency Human Trafficking Investigation
Photo: Anthony Augustus
Originally published as a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office press release:
“On August 13th, 2022, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office hosted a multi-agency human sex trafficking operation targeting the illegal sex trade. This operation was in cooperation with a larger national effort to target sex trafficking called Operation Cross
Country.
Operation Cross Country is a coordinated national operation among the FBI, other federal agencies, state and local police, and social services agencies across the country to find and assist victims of human trafficking, particularly child victims.There were 391 operations held nationwide over the first two weeks of August with over 200 victims of sex-trafficking-related crimes located.
During our local operation, known prostitution websites were utilized to solicit commercial sex acts from providers that were likely under the control of pimps or traffickers. Prearranged services were set up at a local hotel in Redding, CA. Several females arrived at the location for the purpose of prostitution and were detained for further investigation. All female providers were offered victim services before being released on the scene.
During our investigation, 27-year-old Anthony Augustus of Redding was identified as pimping one of the female providers. As a result of this operation, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office obtained a felony arrest warrant for Augustus for Pimping in violation of 266(h) PC with a $100,000 bail. Augustus has yet to be located and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance. If anyone knows Augustus or has had contact with him in the past several days, they are encouraged to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135 or by email at mcu@co.shasta.ca.us.
Shasta County Secret Witness is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to Augustus’s current whereabouts and arrest. They can be reached by phone at 530-243- 2319 or their website at scsecretwitness.com.
The local agencies that participated in this operation were the Shasta County D.A.’s Office, the Anderson Police Department, the Redding Police Department, and federal partner agencies. The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank its allied
agencies for assisting in making our local operation possible.”
