On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, officers from our Sexual Exploitation Trafficking Team (SETT), Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF) conducted a prostitution detail targeting Indian Hill Blvd. and the East Holt Ave. Corridor. As a result of the investigation, eight people were arrested:
Emilio Gonzalez, 21, Pomona resident
Erick White, 33, Upland resident
Zaid Vaid, 28, Diamond Bar resident
Jose Silva, 57, Ontario resident
Manuel Alday, 43, Santa Ana resident
Steven Covarrubias, 30, Rancho Cucamonga resident
Toar Lumingkewas, 44, Rowland Heights resident
Daniel Ponsette, 30, Riverside resident
On Thursday, May 11, 2023, our SETT, SIU and MCTF officers conducted a second prostitution detail targeting Indian Hill Blvd. and the East Holt Ave. Corridor. As a result of the operation one suspected pimp was arrested. He was also found to be in possession of a large quantity of narcotics ready for sale. 19-year-old Johnny Lee Richardson of Pomona was arrested and booked at the Pomona City Jail on the following charges:
266h PC – Pimping
266i PC – Pandering
11378 H&S – Possession of Narcotics for Sales
The Pomona Police Department takes a proactive approach to combating human trafficking and utilizes the assistance of other agencies to provide a victim-centered approach. Since 2022, the Pomona Police Department rescued eleven juvenile victims of human trafficking, and arrested five suspect pimps.
