California DOJ assists Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office

“Money for sex is not a victimless crime.  Prostitution contributes to the degradation of neighborhoods and communities, and harms lives.  We appreciate the continued effort by law enforcement to conduct undercover operations targeting sex buyers and human traffickers.”

– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SACRAMENTO – On March 22, 2024, teams of law enforcement officers arrested 27 people for allegedly soliciting prostitution in Sacramento.  The arrests were the result of an undercover sting operation targeting sex buyers.   California Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Team, along with Homeland Security Investigations, assisted the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office with an operation to identify and arrest sex buyers for soliciting prostitution in the “north blade” in the city of Sacramento. The term, “blade” is used in sex work to describe an area where sex workers commonly congregate to meet sex buyers.

“Human trafficking and sexual exploitation destroy lives,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.“We’re fighting to hold perpetrators accountable, help survivors get a fresh start, and uplift vulnerable Californians. When we work together, we get results, and we are thankful for our partnership with Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. At the California Department of Justice, we’re always ready to answer the call when it comes to standing up for public safety.”

The operation involved undercover deputies who were contacted by potential sex buyers. Once the sex buyer went to the designated meetup location, they were stopped by a marked unit, arrested and booked at the Sacramento County Jail.