Full Notification

In October of 2016, LASD Human Trafficking Detectives began investigating a sextortion case in which a 16 year-old girl was threatened by a man she met while using the social media site “KIK”.  Detectives said that the suspect, 27 year-old male Hispanic Josh Manuel Magana, contacted his underage victim and threatened to hurt her if she didn’t provide nude photos over the internet.  Detectives believe that Magana had learned enough about his victim through her various social media postings, to convince her that he knew her personal information like where she lived and went to school.  Using the screen name “thegiftedmonster”, Magana continued to threaten the victim until she sent him the nude photos he demanded.  Fortunately, the victim reported the incident to authorities and detectives began investigating the case.  Initially, the suspect was able to evade law enforcement by attempting to mask his internet address, but on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, detectives served a warrant in the unincorporated area of Whittier, at Magana’s residence.
 
After serving the warrant, Detectives analyzed Magana’s cellphone, only to find additional photographs of another underage girl and related “chat” in which he threatened her in a similar manner to his first victim.  After contacting the second victim, detectives learned the details of the sextortion. In early 2017, again using the screen name “thegiftedmonster”, Magana had obtained nude selfies from the victim after threatening to harm her.  But the extortion didn’t stop there.  After obtaining the compromising images, investigators learned that Josh Magana threatened to distribute the photos on the internet to friends and family of the victim, unless she met him and had sex with him.  Fearful that she would be exposed on the internet, the 17 year-old victim met the 27 year-old Magana, at his residence, where he sexually assaulted her.  

The suspect continued to threaten and extort the victim for sex throughout January.  The young victim had told no one of the assaults until contacted by Sheriff’s Human Trafficking Detectives.
 
When deputies searched Magana’s apartment, they located additional images of child pornography and videos, showing the assault of the 17 year-old victim.  Magana was arrested and booked at Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station.
 
On Wednesday, the District Attorney’s Office filed numerous counts of aggravated sexual assault, extortion and possession of child pornography on Josh Manuel Magana.  He was held in lieu of $910,000 bail.
 
Because of the possibility that others were victimized by the suspect, Detectives are asking that anyone who had internet contact with “thegiftedmonster”, please contact them at the LA Regional Human Trafficking Task Force at 323-526-5156 or [email protected].
 
 
For additional information contact:
Lieutenant Kent Wegener: 323-526-5159
After Hours: Sheriff's Information Bureau: 213-229-1700

 
Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s Station.  If you wish to remain anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), or use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP or “P3 Mobile” for the hearing impaired on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
 
The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Human Trafficking Bureau houses the LA Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, the nation’s largest co-located human trafficking task force.  The Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, county and local law enforcement, social service agency and non-government and community-based organizations investigating and serving the needs of commercially exploited adults and minors victimized for the purpose of sex and labor.  
 
 The LA Regional Human Trafficking Task Force brings together systems and disciplines to address the victim’s needs through a victim centered, trauma informed approach.  The task force employs a regionalized strategy that crosses jurisdictional boundaries to identify and rescue victims while aggressively pursuing traffickers and buyers.
 
  
LA Regional Human Trafficking Task Force Partners: 
Federal
United States Attorney’s Office
Homeland Security Investigations (ICE)
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Marshals Service
United States Department of Labor 
State
California Attorney General
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (State Parole)
California Employment Development Department
California Highway Patrol
County
LA County Sheriff’s Department
LA County District Attorney’s Office (DA & DA Investigator)
Department of Children and Family Services
LA County Probation Department
LA County Department of Public Health 
City
Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Unified School District Police Department
Pomona Police Department 
Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office
 
 Non-Government/Community Based Organizations
Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking
Saving Innocence
The Guardian Group (Hotel/Motel Outreach, Education and Signage)
Sheriff Clergy Council
Pet Prescriptions Therapy Dog Program
Demand Abolition Cease Network
Restoration Diversion Services
Virtuous Women Inc.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
International Institute of Los Angeles
 

Forwarded by:

Grace Medrano, Deputy

Sheriff’s Information Bureau 

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Hall of Justice - First floor 

211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

213-229-1700

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Jim McDonnell, Sheriff

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department