Three human trafficking victims were rescued and one man was arrested in Long Beach during two unrelated investigations, authorities said Saturday.
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 National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 888-373-7888, by texting 233733, or using the online chat feature at humantraffickinghotline.org/chat.