OCHTTF News Releases Attached
From the desk of Linh Tran
1.) On May 29, 2025, OCHTTF Investigators received information regarding a 15-year-old girl who was being exploited for purposes of commercialized sex in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Within hours of receiving the tip, OCHTTF Investigators recovered the girl in Anaheim and arrested her trafficker after officers conducted a traffic top on the 91 freeway. On June 2, 2025, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office HEAT Unit charged 37-year-old Placied Vercher with pimping for prostitution under 16 years old, pandering of a minor under 16 years old, and human trafficking of a minor.
2.) On May 30, 2025, Anaheim Police Officers responded to a motel regarding a 16-year-old girl who was being held against her will by her suspected trafficker, who was armed with a gun. Responding officers successfully recovered the victim and escorted her to safety. OCHTTF Investigators responded and immediately launched a human trafficking investigation to identify the girl’s trafficker. Approximately two hours later, 46-year-old Donald Newton was arrested in Stanton. On June 3, 2025, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office HEAT Unit charged Newton with pimping a minor over 16 years old, pandering a minor over 16 years old, and human trafficking of a minor. On June 11, 2025, additional charges were added including possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, and personal use of a firearm in a felony.
Good job to the OCHTTF Investigators on the fast response. My ice cream melts slower than that…
OCHTTF Investigations Team
We are excited to announce that the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has joined the OCHTTF. The new partnership with ABC will broaden the OCHTTF’s ability to combat and investigate sex trafficking and labor trafficking in Orange County.
An ABC Agent is assigned to the task force full-time and will join the team of OCHTTF Investigators from the Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Garden Grove Police Department, Irvine Police Department, and Santa Ana Police Department and work alongside federal partners, FBI and HSI.
