Detectives determined that the female juvenile survivor was held against her will, threatened and forced to engage in commercial sex acts in exchange for money by a man identified as Jolaun Canton, 22, of San Jose.

The local enforcement, conducted July 19-30, was part of a national operation led by the FBI known as Operation Cross Country.

Undercover operation busts three Stockton men on pandering and weapons charges

Additional brothels were found throughout Santa Clara County and search warrants were served in Milpitas, San Jose, and Palo Alto, police said.

An investigation estimates that the suspects had stolen more than $150,000 in wages from the victim and three other employees. 

A statewide crackdown on human trafficking led to nearly 20 arrests and the rescue of several victims in Silicon Valley.

Like a growing number of police agencies, the San Jose PD is punishing sex workers and their so-called “johns” by outing them online.

SJPD's use of its human trafficking unit to arrest sex workers touches on a national debate over how to identify victims of exploitation.

Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio wants to give San Jose library patrons—who collectively owe $6.8 million in late fees—a fresh start.

A 20-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking for trying to pimp out a teen girl on Backpage.com, police said.

With no evidence of a Big Game-related spike, the crackdown on trafficked humans more often than not targets sex workers and consenting adults.

Taking a cue from similar national and statewide initiatives, the county may implement in-depth bias training for law enforcement.

As city leaders continue to ponder how to regulate local pot shops, Councilmember wants to limit all campaign contributions from collectives, their owners and employees, and spouses of these people. Also on the agenda: upcoming city-sponsored screening of a human trafficking documentary and a letter asking for more security cameras at City Hall.

Operation Cross Country, a three-day nationwide enforcement campaign by the FBI focusing on underage victims of sex trafficking, recently concluded with the rescue of 105 sexually exploited children and the arrests of 150 pimps and other individuals. In the Bay Area, 12 children were rescued from pimps. While the issue is not new for runaway programs, aggressive pimps going after these young people is now more common. Vulnerable youth, especially those on the run, are often preyed upon by pimps. Studies show that runaways are often identified and targeted by pimps within 48 hours of hitting the streets. Runaway programs need to learn how keep young people safe and must work with local law enforcement when victims seek help from runaway shelters.

Last month, I wrote that I was supporting . But now, after speaking with others working in the field of preventing human trafficking, I have changed my mind. The polls on Proposition 35 show almost 90 percent of the people will vote for it. Who wouldn’t vote for a ballot measure that increases fines and penalties for human traffickers? Proposition 35 seeks to alter current state laws regarding human trafficking by expanding the definition and increasing the punishment for those convicted of human trafficking crimes. On the face that sounds like a great way to increase the penalties for terrible crimes against youth and adults forced into prostitution or slavery. However, the devil is in the details.