Full Notification

The Santa Barbara Police Department’s Narcotics / Vice Unit has been conducting an ongoing investigation into prostitution, solicitation of prostitution, pimping, and human trafficking activities in the City of Santa Barbara. The primary goal of this operation is to identify victims of human trafficking who are often unwilling participants in the sex trade, and are sometimes minors. Through the use of fear, violence, and manipulation individuals referred to as “pimps” force these victims to work as prostitutes. The 2013 arrest and recent conviction and sentencing of Brannon Pitcher to 38 years to life in prison for two counts of human trafficking is a notable example of this type of crime taking place in our community.

Prostitution is advertised and solicited throughout Santa Barbara County in a variety of ways, and SBPD detectives use these means to identify suspected prostitutes and their customers. Thus far this operation has resulted in several arrests. In each instance efforts were made to determine if the prostitutes were victims of human trafficking and to identify individuals acting as pimps; with the objective of bringing the suspects to justice and providing assistance to the victims. In the course of this investigation SBPD detectives received assistance from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Maria Police Department, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

As a result of this ongoing effort the individuals depicted in the attached photographs were arrested in recent months for soliciting prostitution or agreeing to engage in prostitution. The Santa Barbara Police Department will continue to address the issues of prostitution and human trafficking in our community; further enforcement action can be expected.