LAPD Seeks Additional Victims of Pimp who Targeted Minors NR15238jk

Los Angeles: On July 14, 2015,
the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations South Bureau Human
Trafficking Task Force concluded a 20-month investigation of two
minors who are survivors of human trafficking.

27-year-old
Huston Hughes of Compton, California, was convicted of Human
Trafficking and Pimping of Minors under the age of 16. The
survivors in this case are two 16-year-old females who are also
from Compton.

The investigation began when one of the 16-year-old victims
reported a sexual assault and described how Hughes was abusing her
to the investigative personnel at the Human Trafficking Task
force.

The investigation revealed that between 2013 and 2014, Hughes
enticed and persuaded the minors while they were in the Los Angeles
area. Hughes took the juveniles to various hotels and areas where
prostitutes are known to loiter. Over a period of five months,
Hughes sexually assaulted the minors multiple times. He then forced
them to work for him as prostitutes in Pomona and in Los Angeles.
Hughes also used various social media websites to sexually exploit
the minors.

On one specific occasion, when Hughes believed that the minor did
not earn enough money for him as a prostitute, he physically
assaulted her. After five months of abuse, one minor was able to
escape from Hughes and report him to the Los Angeles Police
Department.

Hughes, a self-admitted gang member pled guilty in Los Angeles
Superior Court to Human Trafficking of a Minor and is now required
to register as a sexual offender for the duration of his lifetime
upon release. He received a 9.8 year sentence for his crimes.

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.”