On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the Pomona Police Department Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team (SETT) conducted an undercover operation targeting sex purchasers and human traffickers. The operation was conducted along East Holt Ave. and Indian Hill Blvd.
During the operation, officers posed as sex workers and were contacted by sex purchasers. A total of six arrests were made:
647(b) PC – Solicitation for Prostitution
- Christian Crothers, 48-year-old from Pomona
- Rito Garcia-Gonzalez, 31-year-old from Pomona
- Christian Hernandez, 36-year-old from Ontario
- Alan Flores, 28-year-old from Pomona
- Aurelio Lepe, 46-year-old from Whittier
647(a) PC – Lewd Acts in Public
- Pedro Evangelista, 21-year-old from Pomona
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. In 2022, the Pomona Police Department rescued 11 juvenile victims of human trafficking and several adult victims.
Investigators believe there may be unidentified victims related to human trafficking and urge anyone with information to contact the Pomona Police Department at (909) 622-1241. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or via text message to 233733.
