Sex-trafficking sting results in 15 arrests over three days in Merced, police say
A three-day sex-trafficking sting conducted by the Merced Police Department’s Disruptive Area Response Team (DART) team resulted in 15 arrests.
The arrests in Merced from Sept. 17 through Sept. 19 included Eric Washington, 26, and Dashawn Brown, 29, of Visalia, who were arrested on suspicion of transporting a 17-year-old girl to Merced for sex with an undercover officer posing as a customer, according to police.
The Merced County District Attorneys Office, Homeland Security Investigations and The Department of Justice assisted with the operation.
“Many are children who are forced into the sex trade by criminals who coerce, drug, assault and mentally abuse them,” the Merced Police Department stated in a Facebook post. “We conduct these operations with the hope of rescuing as many victims as possible on a local level. Our message is clear, children are being victimized and we will not tolerate anyone contributing to this horrible crime.”
The others who were caught by undercover officers soliciting unlawful sex were Armando Carrera, Charles Chandler, Eduardo Escobar, Pedro Garcia, Arturo Mugura, Cameron Lainan, Joey Orlando, Andres Ortega, Anthony Solis, Matthew Bright, Horacio Garcia, Brittany Washington and Antoinette White.
If you know anyone who may be a victim of human trafficking, contact the Merced Police Department at 209-385-6912 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline 888-373-7888.
