North Park gang members indicted for sex trafficking

An indictment was unsealed today, January 8, charging 24 North Park gang members and their associates wth running a racketeering conspiracy involving cross-country sex trafficking of underage girls and women as well as murder, kidnapping, robbery, and drug crimes. There were 17 arests this morning and more are expected. Local defendants appear in court tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. magistrate judge Barbara Major.

According to the federal grand jury indictment, the primary business of the gang was sex trafficking in 46 cities across 23 states. A group of gangs is involved. Some females were forcefully coerced into prostitution. All of the 60 female sex-trafficking victims, including 11 minors, were offered resources to help them start a new life. The defendants range in age from 22 to 36.