Fresno Pimp Gets Three Years in Costa Mesa Human Trafficking Case

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA — A man was sentenced to three years in state prison yesterday for human trafficking in Costa Mesa.

Kurtis Chappel, a 23-year-old Fresno resident, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of pimping, two felony counts of pandering by procuring, and one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a license, according to Deputy District Attorney Bryan Clavecilla of the HEAT Unit that prosecuted this case. According to a press release from the DA's office, Chappell is a "human trafficker/pimp who exploits women for financial gain."

Prior to July 26, Chappell traveled with Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 from Fresno to Costa Mesa with the intent of having the victims engage in commercial sex for his benefit. Chappell transported the victims to areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County. Chappell kept money the victims received from sex purchasers for himself.

On July 26, Costa Mesa Police Department officers, in a sting operation, arranged to meet with Jane Doe 1 at a motel on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa.

"When the Costa Mesa Police contacted Jane Doe 1, they located Jane Doe 2 in the same motel room," Clavecilla's report stated. "Chappell waited in a vehicle outside of the motel room and walked to the victim’s room when he believed the sex purchaser had exited the room."

At the time of his arrest, the defendant had large quantities of condoms in his vehicle that matched those in the victims’ motel room and text messages containing language consistent with pimping the victims, the report stated.

Chappell was arrested at the motel by the Costa Mesa Police Department.

"Members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office work proactively to protect women and minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation," he said. "This case was investigated by both the Costa Mesa Police Department and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force."

The Task Force is a partnership between the Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Huntington Beach Police Department, Irvine Police Department, OCDA, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Ana Police Department and community and non-profit partners.