Felon Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking of Minor NR16376jh

Los Angeles: On August 12, 2016,
the Los Angeles Police Department, Operations South Bureau Human
Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with the Los Angeles County
District Attorney’s Office, secured a felony conviction of an
investigation into a claim of human trafficking of a minor and an
adult victim.

38-year-old Benjamin Pennington, a resident of Los Angeles,
California, was convicted of human trafficking of a minor for a
commercial sex act, human trafficking and dissuading a witness from
prosecuting a crime.

The investigation began when the 17-year-old Victim was detained by
the Operations South Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force. During
that investigation, the underage girl revealed to the investigators
that Pennington was forcing her to be a sex worker.

Pennington trafficked the minor and an adult female along Western
Avenue and Figueroa Street in South Los Angeles. Pennington also
advertised the minor and adult victim for commercial sex services
online. The victims in this case were both from Los Angeles,
California, a 17-year-old female and a 23- year-old female.

In addition prior to the defendant trial, he ordered his victims
not to testify during his criminal case proceeding.

Pennington pled guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court to human
trafficking of a minor, human trafficking of and adult and
dissuading witnesses from prosecuting a crime. Pennington received
16 years and 8 month sentence for his crime.

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 the LA Regional Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to
www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit
www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the
“Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly,
tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and
select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.