Brothels Operating At Rohnert Park Apartment Complex Cleared Out: Cops

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – Two brothels allegedly operating out of a Rohnert Park apartment complex as part of a larger suspected ring composed of "numerous Asian brothels" throughout the state of California were cleared out Tuesday when investigators served search warrants, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.

The suspected Sonoma County human sex trafficking operation had been under investigation since management at the complex on Rohnert Park Expressway reported that when they'd evicted the residents of two apartments, they found signs indicating prostitution was occurring, Rohnert Park DPS Sgt. Jeff Justice stated in a news release.

" ... They suspected a third apartment was also involved," Justice said. "A resident of the same complex contacted our Investigations Division and reported that a fourth apartment in the complex also had men frequently coming and going and they rarely saw the occupants come out. The neighbor described the only occupant they had seen in the apartment as appearing to be young, and possibly a minor."

Rohnert Park DPS detectives assigned to the case soon discovered "ads on internet sites known for prostitution offering Asian women for massages and sex acts, which appeared to be related to the two apartments that were still active," Justice said.

When detectives called the phone numbers listed in the ads, they were allegedly directed to the two apartments. Undercover officers went to the apartments and were both "greeted at the door by a woman wearing lingerie," Justice said.

"There was a second woman located in each apartment as well, and all four women were determined to be adults and spoke little to no English," the sergeant said, adding that the apartments were sparsely furnished and "obviously set up for the primary purpose of prostitution."

While at one of the apartments, detectives encountered two men who said they'd been directed there by a call center for the brothels, Justice said.

No arrests in the investigation were announced by Rohnert Park DPS, but Justice said detectives worked with complex management to start the eviction process on the last two apartments.

"It was determined the apartments were a part of a large operation that has established numerous Asian brothels throughout the state, and frequently move the women around between them," Justice said. "The investigation into the persons responsible for the brothels is continuing."

The sergeant noted that the women contacted at the apartments were interviewed before being put into contact with advocacy services. Those who requested assistance were provided transportation to a safe location, he said.

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