17-Year Human Trafficking Conviction of a Gang Member NR16374jh

Los Angeles: On October 17,
2016, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations-South Bureau
Human Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with the Los Angeles
County District Attorney’s Office, secured a conviction of a Los
Angeles criminal street gang member for human trafficking.

38-year-old Rodney Saxton, a resident of Los Angeles,
California, pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 17 years and
4 months in state prison.

Saxton is one of thirty-one defendants that have been convicted for
human trafficking related offenses by the Los Angeles Police
Departments Operations South Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force
since the task force was established in 2014.

In court documents previously filed, prosecutors said that Saxton
via the internet coerced an adult victim from Michigan to come to
Los Angeles to work for him. Once in Los Angeles, the victim was
held against her will at gun point and forced to work as a
prostitute. Saxton told the victim that if she wanted to leave, her
father would have to pay Saxton $1000.00. Saxton, also, threatened
to shoot the victim’s father if they didn’t cooperate with his
demands. The victim eventually escaped and reported her trafficker
to a neighbor who then notified the Los Angeles Police
Department.

During a search of Saxton’s residence, the investigators recovered
an assault rifle, a handgun and over 350 rounds of ammunition. In a
plea agreement filed in court, Saxton specifically admitted that he
trafficked his victim and committed criminal threats. Saxton was
sentenced to 17 years and 4 months and is required to register as a
sex offender for the remainder of his life.

Anyone with information in regards to this suspect is asked to call
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.”