Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested six people and rescued multiple juvenile victims after a months-long investigation into commercial sex trafficking that officials say was tied to an apartment in Modesto.
Investigation, arrests and rescues
Over the past several months, detectives with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation and Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Task Force probed a group of subjects suspected of engaging in commercial sex trafficking, according to a sheriff’s office statement released Monday.
During the inquiry, H.E.A.T. detectives, assisted by the Stanislaus County Probation Department and the Modesto Police Department, identified an apartment in Modesto where several traffickers and their victims lived. As a result of the operation, detectives said they rescued several minor victims from their traffickers and arrested six suspects related to the investigation.
"To date this year, HEAT detectives have rescued nine juvenile human trafficking victims," the sheriff's office said in the release.
Five adults were booked into the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Detention Center on charges that include:
- Human trafficking of a minor
- Pimping
- Pandering
- Criminal conspiracy
A sixth suspect, a juvenile, was booked into the Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall on similar charges. Officials said all are being held on various bail amounts based on the charges.
Those arrested
The sheriff’s office identified the suspects as:
| Name | Age | Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Adonis Lartigue | 20 | Reno, Nevada |
| Haywood Moye | 21 | Modesto |
| Isaiah Amador | 18 | Modesto |
| Reginald Williams | 19 | Modesto |
| Terri Austin | 20 | Modesto |
| One juvenile suspect | Undisclosed | Modesto |
Broader scope and community impact
The H.E.A.T. Task Force’s announcement placed the recent arrests within a larger effort: so far this year the unit has rescued nine juvenile human trafficking victims, and made nine trafficking arrests specifically tied to cases involving minors. The sheriff’s office thanked the Stanislaus County Probation Department and the Modesto Police Department for their assistance in the case.
Officials emphasized that, in keeping with California confidentiality laws and out of respect for the victims, no additional information about the rescued juveniles will be released.
Human trafficking cases that involve minors often carry added legal and social ramifications, including specialized juvenile-court handling and placement decisions. Local service providers and county agencies typically coordinate to provide victim services, counseling and protective measures; the sheriff’s release did not list the agencies involved in post-rescue care.
How the public can help
The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information related to the investigation to contact the H.E.A.T. Task Force at (209) 525-7114 or to submit an anonymous tip to Stanislaus County authorities. Prompt reporting can be critical in human-trafficking investigations, officials said.
Residents concerned about possible trafficking in their neighborhoods should look for warning signs law enforcement often cites: minors in suspicious living situations, signs of control or coercion by adults, or indications that a young person is being moved or profited from in exchange for commercial sex. Because the sheriff’s office is restricting details about the victims, it did not provide specifics on how the rescues occurred or the precise charges each suspect faces beyond the categories listed.
The arrests follow increased attention statewide and nationally on human trafficking networks that exploit young people. Locally, the H.E.A.T. Task Force said it will continue investigations and work with partner agencies to identify and protect victims and pursue traffickers.
Anyone with tips or relevant information should call the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force at (209) 525-7114.
