South Bay Human Trafficking Suspect Arrested In Maryland: Cops

SAN JOSÉ, CA — A Maryland man was arrested last week in connection with a South Bay sex trafficking investigation, San José police said.

Donnovan Dawkins, 29, of Lanham, Maryland, was arrested Dec. 30 on suspicion of commercial sex trafficking-related offenses, according to police.

Dawkins’ arrest culminated an investigation conducted over several months, authorities said.

He is accused of initiating contact with an undercover officer who posing as a 16-year-old female and soliciting them for commercial sex trafficking, police said.

Dawkins had extensive conversations with the undercover officer in which he solicited the officer for sex trafficking, police said.

“Dawkins purchased a flight for the female from San José to Baltimore, Maryland, where he arranged to meet with her with the intention of sexually exploiting her,” San José police said in a news release.

Dawkins was arrested in Frederick, Maryland, with assistance from the Frederick City Police Department, Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force, Office of the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, and several other local and federal law enforcement agencies, authorities said.

Anyone with human trafficking-related tips is asked to contact the San José Police Department Human Trafficking Task Force at 408-537-1999 / stopslavery@sanjoseca.gov, or the Law Enforcement Investigating Human Trafficking Task Force at 408-792-2700 / HTTips@dao.sccgov.org.

Crime tips can also be submitted anonymously by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or by visiting the Crime Stoppers website.

Anyone who submits information that leads to an arrest is eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.