Federal and local law enforcement have apprehended nine individuals in connection with a significant sex trafficking operation targeting the Figueroa corridor in South Los Angeles. Officials characterized the coordinated effort, which commenced early Wednesday, as a major "takedown" of criminal activity.
The operation was a collaborative effort between Homeland Security Investigations and the Los Angeles Police Department. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that the objective was to "target human trafficking in the Figueroa corridor, where girls as young as 14 are being sold for sex."
A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles confirmed that an additional arrest, linked to the ongoing investigation, was made on Monday. The accused are identified in a federal indictment, unsealed Wednesday, as "members and associates of an organization known as the 'Hoovers.'"
Authorities are scheduled to provide further details regarding the case during a press conference scheduled for Wednesday morning.
