--- title: "Federal Sweep Targets a South LA Sex-Trafficking Ring, With 10 Arrested" description: "Federal and Los Angeles investigators arrested 10 people Wednesday in the latest phase of a sweeping crackdown on an alleged sex-trafficking network that prosecutors say exploited dozens of victims — including minors — along South Los Angeles's Figueroa Corridor." category: "Los Angeles" category_url: https://herald.la/category/los-angeles author: "Desmond Clarke" published: 2026-07-01T23:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-07-01T23:00:00.000Z canonical: https://herald.la/article/federal-sweep-targets-a-south-la-sex-trafficking-ring-with-10-arrested tags: ["sex trafficking", "Figueroa Corridor", "South Los Angeles", "FBI", "Department of Justice", "human trafficking"] --- # Federal Sweep Targets a South LA Sex-Trafficking Ring, With 10 Arrested Federal and Los Angeles investigators arrested 10 people Wednesday in the latest phase of a sweeping crackdown on an alleged sex-trafficking network that prosecutors say exploited dozens of victims — including minors — along South Los Angeles's Figueroa Corridor. A long-running federal operation to break up sex trafficking in South Los Angeles widened Wednesday with a fresh round of arrests. ## The arrests Agents took 10 people into custody on charges tied to a federal racketeering indictment, bringing the total charged in the case to about 25, [the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said](https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/10-defendants-including-south-la-motel-manager-arrested-latest-human-trafficking-sweep). The counts include conspiracy under the RICO Act, sex trafficking of minors, sex trafficking by force or coercion, drug trafficking and money laundering; prosecutors said the most serious charges carry mandatory minimum sentences and up to life in prison. All of those arrested are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The operation was run jointly by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation and the LAPD. ## What prosecutors allege Authorities say members and associates of a South Los Angeles gang controlled commercial sex along the Figueroa Corridor, a roughly 3.5-mile stretch of the district, [KTLA reported](https://ktla.com/news/local-news/10-arrested-in-federal-human-trafficking-sweep-targeting-l-a-s-figueroa-corridor/). The indictment identifies 51 alleged victims, some of them minors, whom prosecutors say recruiters targeted among runaways, foster youth and people in financial or emotional distress before subjecting them to violence and taking their earnings. Investigators said they identified five more victims during Wednesday's raids. Among those charged is the on-site manager of a motel prosecutors allege was used for much of the activity; the Herald is not naming victims. "Sex trafficking of young women and children ranks among the worst criminal offenses our office prosecutes," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the operation was aimed at "dismantling the criminal enterprises that profit from human trafficking, rescuing victims, and reclaiming the Figueroa Corridor." ## Context and resources Officials describe the effort as part of a sustained push in an area where enforcement has repeatedly surfaced trafficking, and IRS investigators helped trace how alleged proceeds moved. The case remains under investigation. Anyone who believes they or someone they know may be a victim can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, which operates around the clock, confidentially, and in multiple languages. ## Sources - [10 defendants arrested in latest human-trafficking sweep targeting L.A.'s Figueroa Corridor](https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/10-defendants-including-south-la-motel-manager-arrested-latest-human-trafficking-sweep) - [10 arrested in Figueroa Corridor human trafficking case alleging 51 victims](https://ktla.com/news/local-news/10-arrested-in-federal-human-trafficking-sweep-targeting-l-a-s-figueroa-corridor/)