November 8, 2016
Case # 16HF0955
16CF2847
IRVINE MAN CHARGED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PIMPING, AND PANDERING WOMAN FACING ADDITIONAL CHARGES OF PIMPING SAME VICTIM AND THREATEANING TO KILL HER AFTER POSTING BOND
*He is accused of controlling the victim by using a surveillance camera to monitor her when he is not present
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – An Irvine man charged with human trafficking, pimping, and pandering a woman is facing additional charges of pimping the same victim and threatening to kill her after he posted bond. Elliot Kimble Lee, 41, was charged on July 15, 2016, with one felony count of human trafficking, one felony count of pimping, one felony count of pandering as an inmate in a house of prostitution, two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of possession of controlled substance paraphernalia in case 16HF0955.
In case 16CF2847, Lee was charged on Nov. 3, 2016, with one felony count of human trafficking, one felony count of pimping, one felony count of pandering, one felony count of criminal threats, and one misdemeanor count of violating a protective order, with a sentencing enhancement for crime-bail-crime. He is being held on $200,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. If convicted of all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Lee is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Nov. 18, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-7, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
Circumstances of the Case
Lee is accused of being a pimp/human trafficker who exploits women for financial gain. Pimps often establish rigid rules that their victims are expected to follow including setting daily quotas that the victims are expected to fulfill. Victims are often required to turn over all payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp. Failure to follow these rules can result in physical and/or emotional abuse.
Between May 1, 2015, and July 13, 2016, Lee is accused of having Jane Doe post sexually explicit advertisements on a website known for commercial sex. He is accused of collecting all of the money the victim earned from engaging in commercial sex for his own benefit. Lee is accused of monitoring the victim while he was away by using a motion detection camera in their apartment to keep track of how many commercial sex purchasers the victim encountered and to keep track of the money she was receiving.
On July 13, 2016, Jane Doe’s mother contacted the Irvine Police Department (IPD) after she spoke to Jane Doe about the defendant. IPD arrived to the apartment and arrested Lee. At the time of his arrest, Lee is accused of possessing heroin, methamphetamine, and needles in the apartment.
On July 29, 2016, Lee posted $100,000 bond and was released from custody.
The defendant is accused continuing to pimp the victim after his release from jail. Lee is accused of threatening to kill Jane Doe when she argued loudly enough for people outside of their hotel room to hear.
On Nov. 1, 2016, the defendant and Jane Doe were present in court for a pre-trial hearing. Members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) witnessed Lee and the victim enter the defendant’s car after the hearing in violation of the protective order against him. Lee was arrested at the scene.
Members of the OCHTTF and the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office work proactively to protect women and minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. This case was investigated by IPD and OCHTTF, a partnership between Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Huntington Beach Police Department, IPD, Newport Beach Police Department, OCDA, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Ana Police Department, and community and non-profit partners.
Deputy District Attorney Bryan Clavecilla of the HEAT Unit is prosecuting this case.
Proposition 35 and HEAT
To read more about California’s anti-human trafficking Proposition 35 (Prop 35) and the OCDA’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, please visit www.orangecountyda.org and select Human Trafficking Information from the Media Center drop down menu.