Four Suspected Murrieta 'Johns' Nabbed in Sheriff's Sting

TEMECULA, CA – Eighteen suspected "Johns" were arrested in a recent sheriff's department prostitution sting dubbed 'Operation Reclaim & Rebuild' in the cities of Temecula and Riverside, the agency announced Tuesday.

According to sheriff's Sgt. John Sawyer, the undercover operation took place on Thursday and Friday and included the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, the Riverside Police Department’s Vice Unit and the Temecula Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Team.

"Operation Reclaim and Rebuild was a coordinated statewide law enforcement effort seeking to send a clear message that human trafficking will not be tolerated in California," Sawyer said in a news release. "During this three-day enforcement operation, participating law enforcement agencies throughout California proactively focused their efforts on rescuing human trafficking victims, identifying and arresting their captors, and disrupting the demand for sex trafficking victims."

Here in Riverside County, undercover operatives placed ads online "...on a popular classified advertisement website commonly used for the solicitation of prostitution," according to the sergeant.

The officers then responded to prospective customers who replied to the "advertisement" at locations set up in Riverside and Temecula, Sawyer said.

"These 'Johns' were then arrested after their arrival upon brokering an arrangement for paid sex acts," he said.

A total of 18 men were arrested on suspicion of solicitation for prostitution and were named by the sheriff's department as follows:

• Frank Edward Angulo, 33, Menifee
• Michael Lynn Bagwell, 56, Murrieta
• Justin Blake Carrender, 24, Temecula
• Cole Jean Greenwell, 29, Lake Elsinore
• Robert Jeffrey Jackson, 37, Murrieta
• Michael Thomas Kelsay, 24, Murrieta
• Ahmed Adnan Khalid, 43, Fontana
• Eric Thomas Kochis, 48, Corona
• Nestor Eduardo Licona, 21, Big Bear
• Russell Kent Murdaugh, 55, Temecula
• Thanh Van Nguyen, 39, Menifee
• Arnulfo Gomez Ortez, 36, Menifee
• Mack Palmer, 40, Cabazon
• Paul Joseph Pillsbury, 50, Corona
• Jonathan Huerta Ramirez, 22, Riverside
• John Marvin Rowland, 45, Murrieta
• Miguel Angel Vasquez Jr., 21, Riverside
• Ricardo Zamora, 30, Colton

"Prostitution is not a 'victimless' crime," Sawyer said in the news release. "Ninety-five percent of sex trafficking victims are women or children...Sex trafficking victims are often subjected not only to severe forms of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of their trafficker(s), but are also frequently physically and sexually assaulted by those that solicit them for prostitution."

"The Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force seeks to disrupt and dismantle sex trafficking rings operating within Riverside County and will aggressively identify, pursue and apprehend those who seek to exploit those whom are most vulnerable," he added. "RCAHT will also proactively work to reduce future demand for sex trafficking by identifying and arresting sex buyers."

Images via Riverside County Sheriff's Department