Crackdown on Sex Trafficking in Los Angeles
Authorities have arrested ten individuals in a significant operation targeting an open-air sex trafficking market found in the Figueroa Corridor of Los Angeles.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, six individuals connected to the Hoover crime organization and a motel operator face charges related to “child and adult sex trafficking.”
A 65-count indictment outlines how the Hoover gang “primarily controlled sex trafficking and prostitution” in the area from February 2021 to June 2026. Members reportedly acted “as pimps to facilitate and control sex trafficking.”
Those charged include six members of the Hoover Detective Gang, facing numerous counts such as sex trafficking of minors and racketeering conspiracy.
The individuals identified are Cameron Lockett, 23, from Anaheim; Khaled Mouton, 26, from South Los Angeles; Nakari Miller, 30, also from South Los Angeles; Jorge Melendez, 23, from South Los Angeles; Mauricio Ulloa-Franco Jr., 23, from Palmdale; and Lagraine Lennox, 30, from Compton.
Additionally, Mukeshkumar Rambhai Ahir, 45, a manager of the Stadium Inn & Spas Motel in South Los Angeles, was charged for profiting from the gang’s trafficking activities and allegedly depositing around $64,581 obtained from these operations between September 2024 and January 2026.
Ahir reportedly made smaller deposits into bank accounts to evade detection from banking institutions.
Bill Esseri, assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, commented on the seriousness of the issue, stating, “Sex trafficking of young women and children ranks among the worst criminal crimes our office prosecutes.” He expressed hope that these recent arrests could disrupt the ongoing cycle of crime and abuse in one of Los Angeles’ notorious trafficking zones.
The indictment reveals that the gang targeted vulnerable minors, using social media and personal interactions to recruit new victims. These victims often faced false promises of a better life, along with threats and violence for compliance.
The gang was known to drug victims and manage their activities aggressively, pooling resources to rent rooms for prostitution, moving victims to solicitation spots, and even using digital platforms for advertisements. Victims were compelled to hand over earnings, facing severe repercussions if they failed to comply.
Described as “one of California’s most notorious sex markets,” the Figueroa Corridor has drawn attention at various levels of government, with recent legislation being passed to decriminalize certain aspects of prostitution.
Stephanie Powell, a former LAPD sergeant, noted that the average age of trafficking victims is alarmingly low, often between 12 and 14, highlighting the grave concern around this issue in the community.
In response to the situation, California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton shared insights from his observations in the area, questioning local leaders on their actions to combat sex trafficking.
