Ten Arrested in Prostitution Sting Operation NR24007cm/dm

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department’s Southeast Area Vice Unit is announcing the arrest of ten suspects believed to be involved in prostitution related crimes that occurred in South Los Angeles.

On January 4, 2024, around 4:00 p.m., vice officers conducted a sting operation targeting sex purchasers and human traffickers along the Figueroa Corridor in South Los Angeles.  Undercover officers posing as commercial sex workers were contacted by individuals looking to purchase sexual services.  This operation is an ongoing effort to prevent the trafficking of women and minors along the busy corridor.

During the operation, undercover officers obtained ten separate violations from individuals attempting to purchase sexual services.  Those individuals were subsequently arrested by uniformed Southeast officers.

The following adults were arrested and cited for California Penal Code (PC) Section 647(b)(2):  Solicitation for the Purposes of Prostitution.  All arrestees are residents of the City of Los Angeles.

Suspect-1:  Elmar Veliz, 23 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #J97625
Suspect-2:  Luis Pedro Pusul, 32 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #J97624
Suspect-3:  Alfred Steve Ramirez, 20 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #J86383
Suspect-4:  Marco Antonio Solano Jr., 33 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #J86384
Suspect-5:  Jesus Alberto Tamayo, 21 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #J86385
Suspect-6:  William Perez, 35 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #J89066
Suspect-7:  Rodolfo Martinez, 50 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #J89064
Suspect-8:  Billy Joel Hernandez, 24 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #J89065
Suspect-9:  Gerardo Arellano, 44 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #K00936
Suspect-10: Delby Josue Zuniga, 36 years of age, Release from Custody Citation #K00937

Anyone with information about this crime or these types of incidents is asked to call the Southeast Area Vice Unit at (213) 972-1017.  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 can call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.  Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.