Human Trafficking Suspect Arrested NR15300nv

Los Angeles: On September 1, 2015, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations South Bureau, Human Trafficking Task Force in conjunction with the Long Beach Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit and LAPD’s 77th Street Area Vice Unit concluded an investigation of a Los Angeles man, 40-year-old Raylonzo Roberts, who was charged with commercial sex trafficking of girls as young as 13 years old.

Roberts was charged with a total of 14 felony counts: two counts each of pandering a minor for sex and aggravated sexual assault of a child; six counts of human trafficking of a minor’s for commercial sex; three counts of lewd act on a child and one count of assault with a firearm.

Roberts was charged with sexually assaulting or sexually trafficking eight girls at various times between August 2011 and July 2015. Investigators said he physically assaulted two of the young victims. One because she failed to make sufficient money and the other because she left him to work for another pimp.

Roberts was also charged with assaulting a ninth female victim with a firearm on March 23, 2015. The case remains under investigation. Detectives believed there may be additional victims and are asking for the public’s assistance in locating them.

If convicted, Roberts faces up to life in state prison.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes is encouraged to contact LAPD’s Operations South Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force at (213) 926-3963. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”