San Luis Obispo County law enforcement arrested a Cal Poly student last month for allegedly meeting or arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes as part of a statewide anti-human trafficking operation, according to an announcement from the district attorney’s office.
The county’s anti-human trafficking task force arrested six individuals during the six-day operation, including two who were booked in Santa Barbara County, according to the announcement. Across the state, more than 80 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies made 611 arrests and rescued 170 victims, including 14 juveniles. The annual Operation Reclaim and Rebuild is led by the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Ashvir Singh is a manufacturing engineering senior and could face a up to a $5,000 fine and a prison sentence of up to four years, according to the California Penal Code. Law enforcement arrested Singh on Jan. 26, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
“Prostitution demand fuels a lucrative market that traffickers exploit with victims — including children — even here,” District Attorney Dan Dow said in the announcement. “Our local anti-trafficking operations target this commercial sex demand to curb daily exploitation of minors and adults.”
Dow established the San Luis Obispo Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force shortly after his election in 2014. The task force aims to disrupt networks of human trafficking and assist survivors.
San Luis Obispo County authorities rescued three female victims as part of the six-day operation. One suspect, Esteban Ceja, was arrested for multiple charges of sex trafficking, pimping and pandering.
Mustang News requested verification on Singh’s status at Cal Poly and will update this story as information becomes available. This is a developing story and will continue to be covered.