Two Porterville men arrested during prostitution sting operation in Visalia
Last Saturday, detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with investigators from the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, Visalia Police Department, Tulare County Human Trafficking Task Force and Madera County Sheriff’s Office, conducted two undercover operations.
“Operation Second Chance” is part of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office’s continued efforts to fight human trafficking. During this operation, detectives set up fictitious advertisements on known prostitution sites and searched the dark web for potential human trafficking victims.
Nearly 40 men contacted our decoy. Rodridgo Baez Solis of Porterville, Joan Ramos of Porterville and Christopher Rodarte of Visalia were arrested for soliciting our undercover prostitutes. Francisco Cruz Raygoza of Visalia was arrested and charged with pimping.
During this operation, detectives also tried to find and rescue human trafficking victims on the dark web. Detectives managed to rescue two adult females, one of which was believed to be a human trafficking victim who through force, fear and/or coercion was trafficked for sex. Personnel with Tulare County Family Services responded to the scene and provided the victims with help.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on human trafficking or victims seeking help is encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218. Or they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559)725-4194 or through email at tcso@ tipnow.com or call The National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888539-2373 or text Info or Help to Be Free (233733).