| For Immediate Release Case # 14NF1995 May 2, 2014 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
|
MAN CHARGED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND
ATTEMPTING TO PIMP “MINOR” HE CONTACTED ON FACEBOOK
*“Minor” was an undercover police officer
SANTA ANA – A man faces charges of human trafficking and attempting to pimp a minor who was actually an undercover police officer on Facebook. Melvin Eugene Winslow, 31, San Diego, was charged today with one felony count each of human trafficking, pandering with a minor over 16 years old by procuring, and attempting to pimp a minor. If convicted, Winslow faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison. Winslow is being held on $250,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He was arraigned today and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on May 12, 2014, in N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
Circumstances of the Case
Winslow is accused of being a pimp who exploits women and/or children for financial gain.
Between April 22, 2014, and April 30, 2014, Winslow is accused of befriending an undercover on Facebook, whom he believed to be a 17-year-old girl. The defendant is accused of attempting to recruit her to work for him as a prostitute despite his concerns that she would not be able to make money while she’s still in school. He is accused of telling her he would tattoo the underage victim with his “team logo.”
On April 30, 2014, Anaheim Police Department (APD) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) traveled to San Diego County and arrested Winslow.
Members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office work proactively to protect minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. With the rise in popularity of social media and ease of meeting people on the Internet, many pimps and human traffickers utilize a variety of social media to locate potential victims. This case was investigated by APD and CHP with the assistance of OCHTTF.
Deputy District Attorney Bradley Schoenleben of the HEAT Unit is prosecuting this case.