Ten individuals have been arrested in Los Angeles for their alleged roles in facilitating a sex trafficking operation that targeted approximately 51 underage girls and women. According to a news release from California authorities on July 1, the arrests followed an operation aimed at curbing trafficking along the Figueroa corridor.

Prosecutors stated that members and associates of the south Los Angeles-based gang known as the Hoovers acted as pimps. They recruited minors and women—some of whom were runaways or foster children—using false promises of a better life or through violence to force them into sex work. This activity reportedly occurred between February 2021 and June 2026.

The operation highlights ongoing efforts by Los Angeles authorities to dismantle trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable populations.

Sources