SAN BERNARDINO – San Bernardino County officials are cracking down on human trafficking throughout the High Desert and Inland Empire, which has become a $32 Billion-a-year global industry.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has produced a short documentary, called Teenage $ex 4 $ale: Human Trafficking in San Bernardino County, which serves to inform the public of the rampant sexual exploitation taking place in the nation’s largest county.
Another measure officials are using to combat human trafficking is the Stop-The-John project, where the DA recently released the names and photos of five defendants convicted of solicitation in San Bernardino County.
“Our message is simple, and one that should be very clear by now,” District Attorney Mike Ramos said in a statement. “If you are convicted of purchasing another human being for sex in this county, we are going to share your name and photo with the world.”
Officials said in a news release that the effort is intended to “reduce the demand for victims of human trafficking.” The following names were released by the DA on Feb. 24 – all of which are defendants convicted of solicitation in San Bernardino County:
– Jesus Emanuel Martin, 26, of Ontario
– Leonel Yanez, 47, of Fontana
– Richard Curtis, 34, of Upland
– Jeffrey Watson, 49, of Alta Loma
– Roberto Calero, 21, of Fontana
According to the DA, all photos and information will automatically be removed after one year from the conviction date.
Twenty defendants have had their photos posted since the beginning of the Stop-The-John project. There are currently 83 defendants charged with solicitation in various stages of the court process, officials said.
View the short documentary, “Teenage $ex 4 $ale: Human Trafficking in San Bernardino County,” at vimeo.com.
For more information regarding the DA’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit visit sbcountyda.org.
