SALINAS – The Salinas Police Department was recently able to arrest four individuals suspected of human trafficking and help two possible victims in Salinas in two separate incidents on the same night.
On May 22, Salinas Police Department detectives received a tip from the FBI about a possible victim of human trafficking in the area of Kern Street in Salinas, according to police.
Within hours, detectives identified the juvenile victim and the suspected traffickers – Cordarryl Steen, 37, and Sade Williams, 23. Police arrested Steen while he was leaving a local hotel and located the victim with Williams in a hotel room.
Steen and Williams were booked into the Monterey County Jail for human trafficking and Monterey County Child Protective Services took custody of the victim.
Later that night, a call from a second juvenile victim of human trafficking was received by police. The victim had been able to flee a hotel room that she was allegedly forced to work out of and police were able to contact the victim and identify the suspects – Rory Johnson, 21, and Jessica Clamucha, 20. The two suspects were taken into custody from the hotel room without incident, and booked into the Monterey County Jail for human trafficking.
In both cases, the Salinas Police Department used its partnership with the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office to assist in the investigation to ensure it would be able to prosecute the suspects to the full extent of the law.
The Salinas Police Department said in a press release that although it is grateful to have made the arrests of the suspects and saved the victims, there are many more who need resources and safety.
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide each year including in the United States. It can occur in any community with victims of any age, race, gender, or nationality.
Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life, according to the police department. Victims of human trafficking or those with information about a potential trafficking situation, are encouraged to report it local police or sheriff’s agencies.
People can also call the Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
