RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTSheriff Chad Bianco |
| Press Release: | Human Trafficking Arrest
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| Station Area: | Moreno Valley |
| Written Date: | February 4, 2021 | Time: | 1:00 PM |
| Incident Date: | February 3, 2021 | Time: | 9:05 AM |
| Incident Location: | Lasselle St. and Iris Ave., Moreno Valley
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| Reporting Officer: | Sergeant Robert Menchaca |
| File Number(s): | R200240005
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| Christian Meeks |
Details:
In January of 2020, the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) received a referral from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station regarding a 19-year-old female involved in prostitution under the management of a male sex trafficker/pimp. The female victim said she was abused by the sex trafficker/pimp and worked as a prostitute under his direction. RCAHT assumed the investigation and identified the sex trafficker/pimp as Christian Meeks, a 32-year-old man from Moreno Valley, California. The victim was offered victim services and a search for Meeks began.
RCAHT discovered the victim and Meeks had left Riverside County shortly after her initial interview. In December of 2020, the victim resurfaced in Riverside County and RCAHT located her again and referred her to victim services.
Utilizing covert tools and equipment, undercover RCAHT personnel made contact with Meeks to determine his whereabouts.
On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, Meeks was observed driving a vehicle on Lasselle St., in the city of Moreno Valley. With the assistance of Moreno Valley Sheriff patrol deputies, a traffic stop was conducted and Meeks was detained without incident. Meeks was interviewed and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center charged with the following:
236.1(b)PC Human Trafficking
266i(a)(b)PC Pandering
266h(b)(1)PC Pimping.
The Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force is asking anyone with additional information to contact RCAHT Task Force Investigator Bridgette Recksiek at (951) 442-0392 or (951) 955-1700 and reference incident #R200240005.
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.