1 arrested, 3 teens rescued in Long Beach human trafficking investigations

LONG BEACH — Three human trafficking victims were rescued and one man was arrested in Long Beach during two unrelated investigations, authorities said today.

On Jan. 15, officers patrolling the area of Long Beach Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard found a 14-year-old girl soliciting for commercial sex work, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Officers then determined the girl to be human trafficking victim.

On Jan. 20, a vehicle stopped in traffic by the department’s High Crime Focus Team found one man driving and two female teenagers, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old. Upon investigation, police found the man was on active parole for pimping and a weapons violation, authorities said.

The man was arrested on suspicion of having sexually battered one of the victims while in the vehicle, police said.

The suspect was identified as Huston Hughes, a 37-year-old resident of Los Angeles. He was booked for a parole violation and sexual battery with prior felony conviction, and held with no bail.

All three alleged victims were released into the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, who safely reconnected them with their families, according to the LBPD.

Anyone with information regarding the case was urged to call the LBPD Vice Investigation Detail at 562-570-7219. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can call 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org

The Long Beach cases were announced three days after Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that three men had been charged with pandering involving alleged sexual exploitation along the Figueroa Corridor in Los Angeles.

Derran Adkins, 27, of Paramount, is charged with one felony count each of human trafficking of a minor for a commercial sex act by force, fear, fraud or threat of injury and human trafficking of an adult, along with allegations that he personally inflicted great bodily injury during the commission of the crimes, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The alleged crimes involving Adkins — who is facing sentencing under the state’s three strikes law if he is convicted — occurred between last Nov. 4 and this Jan. 3, prosecutors said.

Fabian Gilbert, 20, of Los Angeles, is charged with one felony count each of pandering and possession of a firearm by a felon involving alleged crimes last Dec. 27, along with an allegation that he committed a new felony offense while out on bail, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Kevin Thomas, 25, of Los Angeles, is charged with one felony count of pandering, along with an allegation that he has a prior conviction for a serious or violent felony, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.

“Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar business and should be viewed as nothing short of modern-day slavery,” Hochman said in announcing the charges during Human Trafficking Prevention Month. “Los Angeles County has the tragic distinction of being one of the nation’s capitals of human trafficking. This is completely unacceptable and must be stopped.”

The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 888-373-7888, by texting 233733, or using the online chat feature at humantraffickinghotline.org/chat