Photo: Stock Image
On December 16th Kern’s County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call reporting a man banging on multiple doors asking for help.
Deputies from the Metropolitan Patrol arrived and located the man. He stated that he had been held against his will after being smuggled into the United States from Mexico.
The man told the Officer’s that there were approximately 15 other people being held in the residence with him, including his wife and minor child.
Deputies located the residence the man reported off of Salsa Street. During a search of the residence no other victims or suspects were located on the premises. Deputies learned later that the other victims were moved after the male victim fled.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Detectives took over the investigation. They were able to locate 2 other residences that could be possible locations were the victims were being held. Search warrants were executed at both residences and a total of 7 females and 9 male victims were rescued from their captors.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Unit in cooperation with The Open Door Network are working to provide resources to the rescued victims.
The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information regarding this case please contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661)322-4040 or the Secret Witness tip line at (661) 322-4040 to make an anonymous tip.
9 suspects have been arrested in connection with the crimes. All the suspects were booked into the Central Receiving Facility. Below is a list of the suspects and their charges:
Erika Garcia (32) – Charges: Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Human Trafficking, Criminal Conspiracy
Carlos Manuel Cortez (37) – Charges: Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Human Trafficking, Criminal Conspiracy, Child Endangerment
Yesenia Garcia (31) – Kidnapping, False Imprisonment Human Trafficking, Criminal Conspiracy, and Accessory
Alexis Medina (26) – Kidnapping, False imprisonment, Human trafficking, Criminal Conspiracy and Accessory
Angel Meza Silva (25) – Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Human Trafficking, Criminal Conspiracy, Child Endangerment
Ismael Heredia Medina (23) – Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Human Trafficking, Criminal Conspiracy, Child Endangerment
Juan Jose Gonzalez (30) – Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Human Trafficking, Criminal Conspiracy, and Child endangerment
2 Juvenile suspects both 16 were also arrested and are being held at Kern County Juvenile Hall Facility for Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Criminal Conspiracy, and Resisting arrest.
