4 Murrieta, Menifee Residents Arrested In RivCo Sex Trafficking Crackdown

MURRIETA, CA — During an operation to reduce sex trafficking in Lake Elsinore, deputies arrested 20 people on suspicion of prostitution-related offenses, officials said.

Two residents of Menifee were arrested: Ben Conte, 34 and Guillermo Lopez, 49. In Murrieta, two were arrested: Rafael Torres, 27 and Ethan Bender, 24 , according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

On June 26, the Lake Elsinore Station Special Enforcement Team, in partnership with the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force conducted a "John" prostitution sting.

Of the 20 people arrested, two Hemet residents are accused of pimping and pandering. What's more, three potential victims were identified and offered victim services and resources.

Here are the 20 people who were arrested:

1. Enrique Hernandez, 38-year-old of Perris
2. Antonio Melendez, 63-year-old of Perris
3. Frederick Williams, 37-year-old of Los Angeles
4. Eric Borba, 44-year-old of Corona
5. James Blakely, 45-year-old of Temecula
6. Scott Hoover, 49-year-old of Lake Elsinore
7. Michael Richards, 31-year-old of Wildomar
8. Curtis Bowers, 48-year-old of Riverside
9. Daniel Lopez, 28-year-old of Lake Elsinore
10. Guillermo Lopez, 49-year-old of Menifee
11. Ben Conte, 34-year-old of Menifee
12. David Segura, 40-year-old of San Jacinto
13. Kyler Sargent, 24-year-old of Hemet
14. Malachi Lines, 28-year-old of Lake Elsinore
15. Ethan Bender, 24-year-old of Murrieta
16. Kenneth Alegre, 26-year-old of Perris
17. Pedro Sotz, 26-year-old of Westminster
18. Rafael Torres, 27-year-old of Murrieta
19. Roshatta Joseph, 52-year-old of Hemet
20. Vincent Hatfield, 48-year-old of Hemet

"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," officials wrote in a statement Friday.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, it is estimated that one in six endangered runaways reported is likely a victim of sex trafficking.

"Sex trafficking victims are often subjected not only to severe forms of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of their trafficker but are also physically and sexually assaulted by those who solicit them for prostitution," the department wrote in its news release.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Deputy Costin or Deputy Olson at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station 951-245-3300.

Those who believe they are a victim of human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 888-373-7888 or contact a local law enforcement department.

"As a reminder, 'Community Policing' involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members," the sheriff's department said.

Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly by calling Sheriff's Dispatch at 951-776-1099 or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.