A human trafficking ring operating in Santa Clara County, California has been dismantled after a two-year investigation. The joint operation led by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office resulted in nine arrests and the rescue of 18 victims. The alleged traffickers face charges with bail ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Six additional suspects have been identified but not yet arrested. The investigation utilized wiretapping to gather evidence, including 30,000 text messages and calls. The DA’s office identified 18 survivors, including a juvenile, but wiretap revealed a total of 30 women involved in the trafficking. The operation, named Operation Phoenix, aims to free victims and aid in their recovery. ABC7 San Francisco reported
In Santa Clara County, California, a human trafficking ring that operated across several cities in the Bay Area has been dismantled after a two-year investigation led by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office. The joint operation involving multiple agencies resulted in the arrest of nine individuals and the rescue of 18 victims.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Patrick Vanier expressed that this investigation represented the future of human trafficking investigations in the state. The proactive approach involved identifying the organization, conducting a thorough investigation over two years, and successfully identifying both the victims and the traffickers involved.
All nine alleged traffickers appeared in court, where bail amounts ranged from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. It is worth noting that six additional suspects have been identified but have not yet been apprehended.
The arraignment of the defendants was postponed for two weeks, and their attorneys have stated their intention to fight the charges. Emilio Dorame-Martinez, one of the defense attorneys, mentioned that his clients are in shock and denying all allegations. He also hinted at potential legal strategies that could challenge the government’s case.
According to the DA’s office, two of the accused individuals were previously arrested by the San Jose police in 2021 for running illegal brothels at homes and apartments. However, they were released on bail and allegedly continued their operations.
The alleged trafficking group utilized various hotels in San Jose, Gilroy, Hayward, and San Leandro, where the women were forced into engaging in sex acts for money. Investigators employed wiretapping techniques to gather evidence, resulting in the identification of 30,000 text messages and calls. This wiretapping effort is a first-of-its-kind in a human trafficking case within Santa Clara County. Vanier emphasized that the recorded conversations provide independent corroboration of the victims’ testimonies and relieve them of the burden of solely recounting their experiences in court.
The DA’s office confirmed the identification of 18 survivors, including one juvenile. However, wiretaps revealed that a total of 30 women had been trafficked into the country for this operation.
The investigation was named Operation Phoenix, symbolizing the hope that these victims will find freedom and recover from a life that the DA’s office described as slavery.
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