Sex Trafficking Of Kids Investigation Sparks Warning To RivCo Parents

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — A 32-year-old man suspected of trafficking minors in the Coachella Valley was behind bars Tuesday morning.

Dewayne Deanthony Williams was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego County Thursday by the U.S Marshall Service Pacific South West Task Force and transported to Murrieta's Cois Byrd Detention Center, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department reported. He was being held in lieu of a $1 million bail bond, according to jail records.

Court records show Williams has been charged with three counts of inducing or persuading a minor to engage in a commercial sex act; one count of human trafficking; one count of procuring another person for the purpose of prostitution; one count of lewd acts with a child 14 or 15 years of age; and one count and sexual battery.

Williams is due to appear in court Wednesday.

The investigation into Williams began March 4 in the cities of Palm Desert, Indio and Desert Hot Springs, according to the sheriff's department.

"During the investigation, seven victims were identified, which were all minors," the sheriff's department reported.

No other arrests were announced.

It's unclear how Williams made initial contact with the victims, but law enforcement issued a warning for parents and legal guardians "to monitor their children’s online activity, social media/gaming platforms, and who they are communicating with in the different online platforms."