Four human trafficking suspects arrested in Monterey County, two minor victims rescued

SALINAS – The Salinas Police Department was recently able to arrest four individuals suspected of human trafficking and assist two potential victims in Salinas in two separate incidents that occurred on the same night.

On May 22, Salinas Police Department detectives received a tip from the FBI regarding a possible human trafficking victim in the Kern Street area of ​​Salinas, according to police.

Within hours, detectives identified the minor victim and the alleged traffickers – Cordarryl Steen, 37, and Sade Williams, 23. Police arrested Steen as he left a local hotel and located the victim with Williams in a hotel room.

Steen and Williams were booked into the Monterey County Jail on human trafficking charges and Monterey County Child Protective Services took custody of the victim.

Later that night, police received a call from a second minor victim of human trafficking. The victim was able to flee a hotel room in which she was allegedly forced to work and police were able to contact the victim and identify the suspects – 21-year-old Rory Johnson and 20-year-old Jessica Clamucha. The two suspects were taken into custody. from the hotel room without incident and booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of human trafficking.

In both cases, the Salinas Police Department used its partnership with the Monterey County District Attorney's Office to assist in the investigation to ensure that it would be able to prosecute the suspects to the fullest extent of the law.

Salinas Police said in a news release that while they are grateful for the arrests of the suspects and the rescue of the victims, there are many others in need of resources and safety.

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain a certain type of work or commercial sex act. Millions of men, women, and children are trafficked around the world every year, including in the United States. This can happen in any community with victims of any age, race, gender or nationality.

Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life, according to the police department. Victims of human trafficking or those who have information about a potential trafficking situation are encouraged to report it to local police or sheriff's agencies.

People can also call the Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. The NHTRC is a toll-free national hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.