Crime & Safety

Task Force Cracks Down on Pimps, Prostitutes in Hemet, Riverside, Ontario

The Inland Empire Child Exploitation and Prostitution Task Force set out last week to target child exploitation, primarily the sexual trafficking of minors, according to the FBI.

Two girls were rescued last week during a multi-agency crackdown on pimps and prostitutes in Hemet, Riverside and Ontario, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles said Wednesday.

In addition more than a dozen men and women were arrested during the same crackdown Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, Laura Eimiller of the FBI said.

The Inland Empire Child Exploitation and Prostitution Task Force set out last week to target child exploitation, primarily the sexual trafficking of minors, according to the FBI.

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Information about the two girls who were rescued was not released. They were described only as a "minor female" rescued in San Bernardino County, and a "juvenile female" rescued in Riverside County. They were both rescued Thursday Jan. 24.

Arrested Thursday in San Bernardino County were Leticia Hernandez, 18, of San Diego, on suspicion of prostitution, Ashley Jackson, 25, of Berkeley, on suspicion of pandering, and Melissa Rivera, 21, of Duarte, on an unrelated felony warrant, Eimiller said.

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In San Bernardino County on Friday, arrested were Shawnique Drake, 22, of Desert Hot Springs, Tiffany Amirmoini, 22, of Chino, Chalene Sprinkle, 20, of Oak Hills, Katie Byrne, 32, of Fresno, Ciara Garrett, 22, of Sacramento, and Ashley Diaz, 19, of Bronx, N.Y., all on suspicion of prostitution, Eimiller said.

In Riverside County on Thursday, Charles Joseph Penniman, 18, was arrested and booked on suspicion of human trafficking and pimping, Eimiller said.

Arrested Friday in Riverside County were Havloc Boston, 44, on suspicion of human trafficking, pimping and drug possession, Kira Whittonisenberger, 41, on suspicion of prostitution, Rajhad Soud Greene, 32, on suspicion of pimping, Julie Ann Scott, 52, on suspicion of prostitution, and Kimberly Lynn Franklin, 47, on suspicion of prostitution.

Hometowns were not provided for those arrested in Riverside County.

All the cases were under investigation to determine extent of alleged criminal activity and potential victimization, Eimiller said.

The Inland Empire Child Exploitation and Prostitution Task Force includes personnel with San Bernardino police, Ontario police, Pomona police, Riverside police, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and the FBI.

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