Sex Buyers Targeted In Southwest Riverside County; 15 People Arrested

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Fifteen people were arrested Wednesday as part of a Lake Elsinore prostitution sting that targeted sex buyers.

The Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team, along with the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the "john" sting "to reduce the demand for sex trafficking in the city of Lake Elsinore," according to the sheriff's department.

The 15 arrestees included residents from Corona, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, Perris, Pomona, Riverside, Temecula and Upland, according to the sheriff's department.

In addition to the arrests, "five potential victims were identified" and services/resources were provided to them, the sheriff's department reported.

The agency did not disclose the method used in this week's sting, but previous operations have involved law enforcement personnel placing decoy posts on popular online classified sites commonly used for prostitution solicitation. When prospective johns respond to the ads, an agreement for paid sex is brokered by an undercover deputy. The johns are then arrested when they arrive at an agreed-upon rendezvous spot.

"Lake Elsinore Station SET deputies intend to disrupt and dismantle sex trafficking rings operating within Riverside County and will aggressively identify, pursue, and apprehend those who seek to exploit vulnerable victims. SET will also proactively work to reduce future demand for sex trafficking by identifying and arresting sex buyers," according to the sheriff's department.