Figueroa Corridor Human Trafficking Initiative Is Designed to Target Sexual Exploitation Crimes on the Figueroa Corridor in South Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES – Federal and local law enforcement officials today announced a significant collaborative effort aimed at combatting human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors on the Figueroa Corridor in South Los Angeles.

United States Attorney Martin Estrada, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang, and Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson made the announcement.

The criminal cases announced today involve the Figueroa Corridor – a 3.5-mile stretch of Figueroa Street stretching from Gage Avenue down to Imperial Highway, long known as a haven for prostitution.

The initiative – called the Figueroa Corridor Human Trafficking Initiative – features federal and local law enforcement working together to target human traffickers and those who perpetuate illegal sex work, especially involving minors. This initiative also is designed to help victims – the young women and girls who perform the sex work – to find opportunities and to help get them off the streets.

“The Figueroa Corridor area is ground zero for human trafficking and victims are abused and exploited there every day,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “With this initiative, we are combining federal and local resources to focus on prosecuting more cases federally, particularly those involving victims who are children, and coordinating with our local partners to hold perpetrators accountable. It is imperative that we take an all-hands approach to stop the human trafficking happening right in our backyard.”

“Often, people think of human trafficking as something that happens only in other countries, but it happens in our own City,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “This is an issue that community leaders and former foster youth have been working to fight back against for decades and today’s announcement continues a commitment to protecting children, many of whom have spent time in the child welfare system, and hold traffickers and abusers accountable. I thank our law enforcement partners, especially the hardworking officers of LAPD’s 77th Division, for their continued work on this important issue.”

“We are so proud of this unprecedented strategic collaboration, with all of our justice partners leveraging their resources. We have made tremendous progress in our efforts to combat the human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors that has plagued the Figueroa Corridor for far too long,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. “By disrupting the illegal activity and the businesses that have harbored it and with our U.S. Attorney taking the lead on federal felony prosecutions, we are declaring loud and clear that our children are not for sale, and our community will not be a hub for sex trafficking of minors.”

“In the fight against human trafficking, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has made significant strides thanks to the relentless dedication of our prosecutors and the unwavering support of our multi-agency law enforcement partners. This collaborative effort has been instrumental in bringing traffickers to justice and dismantling these heinous operations,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. “Equally important is our dedication to supporting survivors through LADA’s Bureau of Victim Services. Our team is trained to provide trauma-informed care, offering survivors the support they need to heal and rebuild their lives. From the moment they come into contact with our office through to their testimony in court, we stand by their side, ensuring they are treated with the utmost respect and care. We recognize that the fight against human trafficking is ongoing. Together, we will continue to advance justice and work toward a future where human trafficking is eradicated from our community.”