30/07/2024
Press Release:
On Thursday, July 25, 2024, the Murrieta Police Department, in partnership with the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking (RCAHT) Task Force, conducted a proactive enforcement operation that targeted online prostitution and individuals who seek it. Prostitution is a crime, and people whose demand for these unlawful activities fuel an illicit underground economy both locally as well as across the State of California. The operation focused on rescuing victims of s*xual slavery and human trafficking, identifying and arresting their captors, and disrupting demand for these vulnerable victims.
During the Murrieta operation, one female was identified as a human trafficking victim and accepted outreach and diversion services. Additionally, 12 males and one female were arrested for solicitation of prostitution.
Arrested during the operation for solicitation of prostitution were:
• Shawn Coyle, 50, of Temecula
• Edward Taamilo, 21, of Murrieta
• Jose Rosiles-Rivera, 38, of Lake Elsinore
• Chistopher Soto-Perez, 28, of Perris
• Andres Martinjuan, 22, of Menifee
• Jaime Garcia, 31, of Menifee
• Darwin Ramos, 51, of Temecula
• Omid Seraj, 43, of Chino Hills
• Caleb Macintosh, 39, of Montclair
• Jonathan Kwawegen, 39, of Temecula
• Khayrii Joynerdew, 26, of San Diego
• Keith Keliikoa, 32, of Moreno Valley
• Mahogany Armstrong, 21, of Long Beach
Prostitution is not a “victimless” crime. Human trafficking is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world. 95% of s*x trafficking victims are women or children. Those victimized by commercial s*xual exploitation frequently have long histories of emotional, physical, and/or s*xual abuse or trauma in their backgrounds. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that 1 in 6 endangered runaways reported are likely victims of s*x trafficking. S*x trafficking victims are often subjected not only to severe forms of emotional, physical, and s*xual abuse at the hands of their trafficker but are also frequently physically and s*xually assaulted by those who solicit them for prostitution.
Our partners at the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force seek to disrupt and dismantle s*x trafficking rings operating within Riverside County and will continue to aggressively identify, pursue, and apprehend those who seek to exploit those who are most vulnerable. Through proactive enforcement operations, RCAHT and the Murrieta Police Department are working hard to reduce future demand for s*x trafficking by identifying and arresting s*x buyers, identifying human trafficking victims, and providing valuable outreach and diversion services to them.
Anyone with questions about this operation can contact Sergeant Jay Elliott or Corporal Jason Jones at (951) 696-3615.
