A Los Osos man is among six men arrested as part of a statewide task force to combat human sex trafficking, the Sheriff’s Department announced.
According to a news release from Sheriff’s spokesman, Tony Cipolla, during January, “The San Luis Obispo County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force participated in Operation Reclaim and Rebuild in order to combat human trafficking within our area.
This operation was a coordinated effort throughout the state and multiple agencies within San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County participated.”
According to a statement from the District Attorney’s Office, “this operation by the Task Force was directly aimed at disrupting networks of human trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation occurring on the Central Coast, identifying and assisting survivors of trafficking, and reducing the demand for trafficking and exploitation of minors by identifying and prosecuting would-be purchasers.”
Over the course of the operation, investigators from SLO and Santa Barbara Counties made six arrests and rescued three female sex trafficking victims, two adults and one under-18 juvenile girl.
Among the arrestees is a San Diego man who authorities believe has been conducting human trafficking up and down the state.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, which participated in the operation, “Esteban Ceja, 30 of San Diego, was arrested and charged with numerous felony crimes related to sexual trafficking of a victim using force and fear to accomplish the commercial sexual exploitation of the victim.
“Ceja is also charged with two felony counts of pimping and two felony counts of pandering as well as one count of providing false identifying information to law enforcement.”
He is reportedly a twice-deported, undocumented immigrant, too.
“A review of the individual’s criminal history,” the D.A.’s Office said, “reveals that he was twice previously removed from the United States by the Department of Homeland Security in 2018 and 2020.”
The D.A. qualified that information by reiterating that Ceja “is legally entitled to the presumption of innocence until they are proven guilty in a court of law by judge, jury, or their plea.”
They are attempting to further define just how far his criminality stretches. “There is an ongoing investigation concerning Esteban Ceja and his trafficking activities,” the D.A.’s Office said, “that are believed to span from San Diego and the Inland Empire to Northern California and many locations in between.
“Anyone with information about this individual is encouraged to contact San Luis Obispo Crime Stoppers.”
Of the five others caught up in this operation, three were caught in SLO County and two in Santa Barbara County. They are:
• Stephan Mueller, 62 of Los Osos, charged with suspicion of meeting with a minor for lewd purposes (PC 288.4(B)) and contact with minor for sexual offense (PC 288.3(A)).
• Ashvir Singh, 22 of San Luis Obispo, suspicion of meeting with a minor for lewd purposes (PC 288.4(B)).
• Gael Pitaabarca, 25 of Paso Robles meeting with a minor for lewd purposes.
• Gonzalo Luna-Penafort, 22 of Santa Maria meeting with a minor for lewd purposes (Santa Barbara County case)
• Arturo Deleon, 39 of Santa Maria meeting with a minor for lewd purposes (Santa Barbara County).
• Esteban Ceja, 30 of San Diego Human Trafficking (PC 236.1(B)); Pimping — two counts (PC 266H(A)); Procures another person/prostitution — two counts (PC 266I(A)(1)) PC 266I(A)(1) Procures another person/prostitution; and False Representation to a Peace Officer (PC 148.9(A)).
The Human Trafficking Task Force was formed by District Attorney Dan Dow in 2014, The task force includes investigators from the SLO County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Operations Unit, Special Victim’s Unit, and Major Crimes Unit; DeliverFund; California Highway Patrol’s Investigative Services Unit; FBI Santa Maria Field Office; Santa Maria Police Department; SLO County Probation Department; Grover Beach PD; SLO County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations along with their 3CFL Unit; and the SLO County District Attorney — Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.
This particular operation included officers with the Santa Maria PD.
D.A. Dow commented, “Prostitution demand fuels a lucrative market that traffickers exploit with victims —including children — even here.
“Our local anti-trafficking operations target this commercial sex demand to curb daily exploitation of minors and adults. Warning to sex buyers: reconsider, as your actions heighten risks for ~300,000 American children annually. You can and will be prosecuted if caught.”
D.A. Dow added “Our partnership with DeliverFund powered our central coast operation’s success —disrupting trafficking networks, rescuing victims, and arresting a trafficker and five men communicating with or attempting to meet with juveniles for sexual purposes.
“Most importantly, with their help, we were able to rescue three trafficking victims. DeliverFund’s support made our community safer.”
