KINGS COUNTY, CA – 17 people are busted for human trafficking and sex crimes in Kings County during Operation Link-Up.
On August 26th, 27th and 28th, 2021 Detectives with the Kings County Sheriff’s Office participated in Operation Link Up.
This multi-agency operation targeted human trafficking and sexual predators within the Central Valley. Agencies who participated in the operation with the Kings County Sheriff’s Office were the Hanford Police Department, Lemoore Police Department, Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Kings County Major Crimes Task Force and the California Department of Justice Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Team.
During the operation, law enforcement officIals from the above listed agencies posed as 13-year-old and 16-year-old juveniles on several on-line social media sites.
Over the three day period, 16 adult individuals made contact with the decoy juveniles and solicited them for sexual acts.
All 16 suspects agreed to meet the underage decoy at various locations within the County to complete the sexual act.
Those arrested during the operation included:
- Edward Zuniga, 45, of Hanford
- Christian Loeffler, 35, of Lemoore
- Miguel Guarchaj Gomes, 29, of Visalia
- Timothy Rankin, 60, of Exeter
- Netzahaulcoyotl Trujillo, 39, of Hanford
- Josefat Gutierrez, 46, of Hanford
- Jose Huerta Garcia, 36, of Hanford
- Domingo Martinez, 40, of Mendota
- John Cha, 22, of Fresno
- Alberto G. Martinez, 34, of Yettem
- Chris Raymond Brown, 40, of Hanford
- David Spry Burks, 20, of Hanford
- Phillip Noe Sesate, 19, of Hanford
- Luis Morales, 22, of Lemoore
- Sergio J. Cervantes-Serna, 47, of Hanford
- Samuel Mendoza, 39, of Visalia
All suspects were arrested and booked into the Kings County Jail on various charges related to arranging to meet a minor for sexual acts, meeting at an agreed upon location for sexual acts and sending sexually explicit materials to a minor.
Also during the operation Detectives with the Lemoore Police Department posed as adults looking to be paid for sexual acts on several social media outlets.
During the operation Eric A. Jauregui, 33, of Hanford was arrested for PC 647b, Soliciting Prostitution.
“We would like to remind parents and guardians to please monitor their children’s online activity. We need everyone’s help to prevent these crimes from taking place.”
The Kings County Sheriff’s Office says it would like to thank all the agencies involved in this successful operation.
