July 27, 2016
Case # 16NF2078
15NF1723
MAN OUT ON BAIL CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING, PIMPING AND PANDERING UNDERAGE TEENAGE GIRL
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged yesterday with trafficking, pimping and pandering an underage teenage girl while he was out on bail for another criminal case. Dameon Depree Jefferson, 38, Portland, Oregon, is charged with one felony count of human trafficking of a minor, one felony count of pimping a minor, and one felony count of pandering with a minor under 16 years old by procuring with a sentencing enhancement for crime-bail-crime. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison. He was arraigned yesterday, July 26, 2016, and is being held on $1 million bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Aug. 3, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
Jefferson is also charged with two felony counts of pandering and two felony counts of attempted pimping in a separate case (Case # 15NF1723). If convicted on those charges, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years and four months in state prison.
Circumstances of Case #16NF2078
Jefferson is accused of being a pimp/modern-day slave owner who exploits women and/or children for financial gain. 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.
At the time of the crime, Jefferson was out of custody after posting $50,000 bail in another open criminal case. The defendant is accused of trafficking a minor teenage girl and having her solicit commercial sex on a website known for prostitution and collecting the money she made from engaging in commercial sex.
On July 21, 2016, an undercover officer from the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) contacted the victim after locating her on a website known for prostitution and arranged to meet with the victim for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex at a motel in Anaheim. OCHTTF located the victim and then arrested the defendant who was parked in a vehicle at another nearby motel.
Circumstances of Case # 15NF1723
Between June 15, 2015, and June 22, 2015, Jefferson is accused of dropping off two women, both 20, in an area in Anaheim known for prostitution to solicit commercial sex. Members of OCHTTF approached the victims and were led to the defendant while investigating this case. OCHTTF located the defendant’s vehicle and performed a traffic stop on Jefferson’s vehicle. The defendant is accused of possessing property belonging to the two women and exchanging text messages with the victims suggesting that he was unlawfully attempting to live and derive support from the earnings and proceeds from the victims.
Members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (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 OCHTTF, a partnership between Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Costa Mesa Police Department, Huntington Beach Police Department, Irvine Police Department, OCDA, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Ana Police Department and community and non-profit partners.
Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver of the HEAT Unit is prosecuting this case.