122 Arrested in Northern California Sex Trafficking Operation

The two-day sting was part of an effort to combat human trafficking and exploitation in Sacramento County.

A car slows down on Holt Boulevard during a prostitution sting operation in Pomona, Calif., in this file photo. David McNew/Getty Images

Law enforcement in Sacramento County arrested 122 people and rescued two juveniles during a two-day sex trafficking operation, the county sheriff announced Sept. 30.

Sheriff Jim Cooper praised “Operation FAFO (fool around and find out),” saying the department would continue to target human traffickers.

“This sting sends a clear message to those involved in the illegal sex trade: We are committed to protecting our community from exploitation, especially our most vulnerable,” Cooper said in a statement Monday. “Human trafficking, especially the exploitation of minors, is a serious crime, and we will continue to work tirelessly to bring justice to victims.”

The suspects face charges related to prostitution, solicitation, and trafficking. None of the suspects named by the sheriff’s department remained in jail Tuesday.

Prostitution and solicitation are misdemeanors in California, which can result in law enforcement issuing citations to the defendants, and they can be released without having to post bail.

The sheriff’s department did not specify when the operation happened or what type of trafficking charge was considered for any of the suspects and did not return a request for information Tuesday.

Human and sex trafficking are felonies in the state, requiring defendants to post bond before being released in many California counties.

The sheriff’s department shared a video on social media Monday that was produced using footage from surveillance cameras at a motel. Multiple camera systems were set up throughout the county to allow law enforcement to watch activities throughout the operation.

One of the videos showed deputies chasing suspects on foot, at one point tackling one in a motel parking lot. Another clip showed deputies being stopped by alleged prostitutes.

The two-day sting was part of a concentrated effort to combat human trafficking and exploitation in Sacramento County.

During the operation, officers posed as undercover buyers and sellers, identifying those involved in illegal activities.

Police tape blocks the street near the scene of a shooting in Sacramento, California in a file photo. Sacramento County Sheriff's Department joined several other agencies to arrest 122 suspects during Operation FAFO (fool around and find out), authorities reported on Sept. 30, 2024. Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo

The operation targeted people who exploit others for commercial sex, with a focus on rescuing juveniles forced into prostitution, according to the sheriff’s department.

Two juveniles—both 16 years old—were being trafficked for sex, authorities reported. The victims are now receiving care and services to help them recover and transition to a safer environment, the sheriff’s department reported.

Specialized law enforcement officers worked together during the operation, including detectives from the sheriff’s office, and officers from the Rancho Cordova Police Department, Sacramento County special enforcement detail, a sheriff’s office drone unit, California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Justice Human Trafficking Team, and victim advocate groups Drive for Impact and the Sacramento Family Justice Center.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Department in California discovered several migrants who were human trafficking victims living in “horrible” conditions and working as apparent indentured laborers at an illegal marijuana grow operation in Merced, Calif., on July 26, 2023. California is one of the nation's top destination states for human trafficking, according to Attorney General Rob Bonta. Courtesy of Merced County Sheriff’s Department

Human trafficking is one of the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprises, raking in about $150 billion a year globally, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

In recent years, transnational criminal organizations and domestic gangs have expanded from drug and firearm trafficking to trafficking human beings in the United States, according to the attorney general.

The U.S. Department of State estimates that 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the country every year.

California is one of the nation’s top destination states for human trafficking, Bonta’s office reported.