Special Agents

SAN DIEGO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a joint operation in San Diego County resulting in the felony arrest of a suspect and the seizure of 720,000 fentanyl pills. On February 9, 2024, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fentanyl Abatement & Suppression Team (FAST), in collaboration with the California Department of Justice San Diego Fentanyl Enforcement Program (SD FEP), the United States Border Patrol (USBP), and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD), arrested an individual in Alpine after an investigation determined that the individual was driving a vehicle containing a large quantity of fentanyl.

“This massive bust is the largest fentanyl seizure since DOJ announced a partnership between our Fentanyl Enforcement Program and FAST Task Force,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I am grateful for the work of our special agents and law enforcement partners in getting these illicit and dangerous drugs off our streets. Whether through the seizure of illicit fentanyl through our ongoing enforcement efforts or by bringing California billions of dollars through our lawsuits and investigative efforts to hold the opioid industry accountable, the California Department of Justice is all-in when it comes to protecting California families from the dangers of fentanyl. There are countless lives being saved because of this important and difficult work.”

A total of 110 packages were removed from the vehicle with a total combined weight of 72.05 kilograms (158.5 pounds). The packages contained blue pills with “M30” markings and the initial investigation determined the pills contained fentanyl. Law enforcement estimated approximately 720,000 fentanyl pills were removed from the vehicle. The prosecution of this case will be handled by the California Department of Justice.

An image from the seizure can be found here.

The complaint can be found here.

HSI San Diego FAST is a multiagency task force comprised of state, local and federal partners and was first established in August 2022 focusing on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl.

In 2022, and in response to the fentanyl epidemic, the California Legislature and the Governor approved appropriation for the creation of the California Department of Justice, Division of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Investigation’s (BI) Fentanyl Enforcement Program (FEP). FEP works with local and federal law enforcement partners throughout the state to address the fentanyl crisis and get these dangerous drugs off California’s streets. The program is comprised of BI regional investigative teams placed in San Diego, Los Angeles, Dublin, and Sacramento. A Special Agent in Charge serves as the program manager and each team has a Special Agent Supervisor, five Special Agents, a Staff Services Analyst and a Crime Analyst I. Through collaboration with existing BI Task Forces, the FEP targets major fentanyl-trafficking criminal networks. The program leverages existing BI Task Forces and local and federal law enforcement partnerships to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle these criminal networks. BI has the unique expertise, state-wide perspective and vertical prosecution model to impact fentanyl-trafficking criminal networks.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

BAKERSFIELD — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the arrests of seven suspects as part of a multiagency, two-day sexual predator apprehension operation in Kern County. The operation targeted adults seeking to sexually exploit children by using undercover agents and detectives posing as minors offering sex for pay on online websites commonly used by victims of sex trafficking. These same websites are commonly accessed by predators to pay and meet victims for sex acts. Additionally, agents and officers rescued three sex trafficking victims who were with the suspects arrested. The victims were provided support through victims services.   

“Sexual exploitation and the human trafficking of children will not be tolerated in California, period,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I established DOJ’s Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Team to ensure that my office could provide targeted and aggressive support to help end this modern-day form of slavery in our state. I am thankful to all our partners for their work in this operation, as well our California DOJ agents who have made hundreds of arrests and helped countless victims since starting this work in 2021. We will continue to keep at it, every day, as one person exploited is one too many.”   

“Maintaining a strong law enforcement presence in social media dating apps, and physical locations where human trafficking is known to occur is an important element of suppressing human trafficking,” said Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer. “The success of this operation shows the commitment of law enforcement to combating human trafficking and child exploitation and offers a glimpse into how prevalent these horrific crimes are within our state.”      

The two-day operation, which concluded on Wednesday, involved the collaboration of the California Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Team, Homeland Security Investigations, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Bakersfield Police Department, investigators from the Kern County District’s Attorney Office, and the California Department of Corrections Parole Division. The suspects were taken into custody and face charges by the Kern County District Attorney’s Office of pimping, pandering, human trafficking of a minor, contacting a minor for the purpose of committing a felony, and meeting with a minor for the purpose of committing a lewd act.

Attorney General Bonta launched DOJ’s Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Teams in June 2021. These teams, led by California Department of Justice, are located throughout the state including the Central Valley, Sacramento, and San Diego. The teams have taken significant action to support law enforcement partners in disrupting and dismantling human trafficking and the criminal exploitation of children.

Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery where perpetrators profit from the control and exploitation of men, women, and children for sex or labor through force, fraud, or coercion. Human trafficking does not require movement across borders. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were more than 1,300 human trafficking cases reported in California in 2020 — more than any other state in the nation. In California, human trafficking is prevalent in the hospitality, commercial sex, domestic work, and construction industries. Victims of human trafficking are also found among migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, providers of residential care, and in California’s garment sector. 

If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to access help and services. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Additional information and resources to support survivors of human trafficking are available here. 

It is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

LOS ANGELES — Attorney General Bonta today announced that the California Department of Justice (DOJ) secured a 32-month prison sentence against Los Angeles tobacco distributor Sadiq Mohammed, who pled guilty to running a $3 million tax evasion scheme against the State of California. The investigation, which was conducted by DOJ’s Tax Recovery in the Underground Economy Task Force (TRUE), uncovered that between 2017 and 2018, Mohammed filed tax returns that underreported sales from L.A. Trading and Distribution, Inc., his tobacco distribution business located in the Los Angeles area. Mohammed imported tobacco products from Florida and Illinois and falsely claimed they were interstate sales to unlawfully evade California’s excise taxes, which are required for out-of-state products.  

“When individuals defraud and steal from taxpayers and the State of California, we will hold them accountable,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Taxes owed to the state pay for services that our communities depend on and we will stop in not in our efforts to track down those who put these services and our state at risk; we will find them and return the funds back where they belong. I thank and commend DOJ’s prosecutors and special agents who worked hard on this case to bring Sadiq Mohammed to justice, and I extend my gratitude to our state and federal partners for their assistance in apprehending him and bringing him back to California for prosecution.”

As a result of the investigation, DOJ secured a warrant for Mohammed’s arrest in 2022. The suspect was arrested in November 2022 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection attempting to re-enter the United States before being extradited to California for prosecution by DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section. Mohammed pled guilty to tobacco excise tax evasion on September 23, 2023. On December 20, 2023, after being in custody since the 2022 arrest, he was sentenced to 32 months in state prison and ordered to pay more than $3.04 million in restitution.

TRUE was established the Tax Recovery in the Underground Economy Criminal Enforcement Program (TRUE) on January 1, 2020. Formerly known as Tax Recovery and Criminal Enforcement (TRaCE), TRUE is an important measure to support the state’s efforts to combat and deter underground economic crimes in California. TRUE includes attorneys, investigators, and special agents from the DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section and Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Franchise Tax Board, Employee Development Department, as well as the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Through multiagency collaboration, the TRUE Task Force agencies work to combat wage theft, tax evasion, and other crimes in the underground economy.

A copy of the charges against Mohammed can be found here.

SAN DIEGO – As part of a joint investigation through the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF), California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the results of Operation Home for the Holidays. The annual, multi-jurisdictional operation, which concluded on Thursday, works to combat human trafficking through targeted enforcement utilizing undercover officers to arrest potential traffickers and by offering support to survivors. As a result of the multi-day operation 12 individuals were offered support services and two arrests were made. The arrests have been referred to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and San Diego City Attorney’s Office.

“Regardless of the season, every person deserves a safe place to call home,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Operation Home for the Holidays plays a significant role in our collective endeavors to ensure community safety and combat human trafficking. I deeply appreciate the continuous collaboration and efforts of our partners at the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, who work tirelessly to assist victims, survivors, and their loved ones. Together, we will persevere in taking decisive measures to hold those who violate the law responsible for their actions.” 

“Unfortunately, human traffickers typically target minors and other vulnerable or marginalized populations because they are easier to manipulate and control,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “However, by working together with our partners such as the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force on targeted operations, we are all better postured to disrupt and dismantle the organizations behind the sex trafficking of minors and connect the victims with the services they need to start on their journey to recovery. I’m confident that the 12 victims rescued, including two minors and the two arrests have impacted not just the families but our community. I thank everyone involved for the success of this yearly targeted operation.”

“The scars human trafficking leave on victims and their families can last a lifetime,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge, Stacey Moy. “We are committed to combating this threat through continued partnerships and collaboration with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners.”

“Operation Home For The Holidays and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force serve a vital role for public safety because they protect the most vulnerable members of our society who are repeatedly victimized by those who profit from their servitude,” said Executive Director of San Diego Imperial Valley HIDTA David King. “Connecting victims of Human Trafficking with life changing services, and providing consequences for violators, will have positive impact on the quality of life for many San Diego County residents.”

“The Sheriff's Department is proud of the hard work and collaboration of all our local, state, and federal partners,” said San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez. “The importance of these operations cannot be minimized, even rescuing one young woman from human trafficking cannot be understated. We would like to also thank our community partners who have been instrumental in providing resources for the women involved in these investigations. We are honored to be a part of these programs and will continue these partnerships in our effort to end human trafficking in San Diego County.” 

“The holidays should be a joyful time for all children in our community. We are committed to rescuing victims of human trafficking and reuniting them with their families this holiday season while holding offenders accountable,” said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. “This annual operation is a great example of how law enforcement partnerships are crucial to rescuing the most vulnerable in our community.”

“Every child and every human being deserves to be home safe for the holidays and we will continue to fight alongside the human trafficking task force to recover victims and hold criminal buyers and traffickers accountable,” said Summer Stephan, San Diego County District Attorney. “Girls as young as 13 years old are being openly sold for sex on our streets and it’s unacceptable. We want victims of sex trafficking to know they can break free from this horrific cycle and regain their freedom and dignity.”

During Operation Home for the Holidays, law enforcement personnel worked undercover as sex buyers to identify and contact potential victims of trafficking and traffickers. The operation, which began last week, was carried out across San Diego County over a period of two separate days in the City of San Diego and National City, in collaboration with the National City Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Police Department, and other SDHTTF law enforcement partners. As part of the effort, Child Welfare Services and adult and juvenile support service advocates were on scene to provide support as needed. 

SDHTTF is a cooperative effort involving the California Department of Justice, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, National City Police Department, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego County Probation Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Police Department, Southwest Border High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. In addition to serving as the lead agency on the SDHTTF, the California Department of Justice has two regional Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Teams serving Northern California and Southern California.

If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to access help and services. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Additional information and resources to support survivors of human trafficking is available here.

FRESNO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the arrests of 14 suspects as part of a multi-agency, three-day sexual predator apprehension operation in Fresno County. “Operation Boogeyman” targeted adults seeking to sexually exploit children by using undercover agents and detectives posing as minors offering sex for pay on websites commonly used by victims of sex trafficking. These same websites are commonly accessed by predators to pay and meet victims for sex acts. Included in those arrested was an employee at a local school district. 

“Today, we are sending a clear message that there is no place for these heinous crimes in California or anywhere,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I want to thank all of our law enforcement partners for their collaboration in holding accountable those who broke the law and endangered our youth. My office remains committed to providing targeted and aggressive support to help bring human and sexual exploitation to an end.”

“Following collaborative efforts and proactive investigations by our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, 14 sexual predators have been arrested," said Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. "Fresno County law enforcement will aggressively pursue and prosecute adults who target children for sexual exploitation, and our office is committed to holding these predators accountable to the fullest extent of the law. However, and it cannot be stated enough, work inside the courtroom is merely one step in preventing child exploitation, and our efforts must be matched inside the home to educate our children and community on the importance of monitoring the applications your children are using. Sexual predators will continue to seek out minors on various social media platforms. Being involved in your child’s online application use and raising awareness of the risks involved are critical to ending child exploitation.”

"While this operation had its successes of identifying and capturing several dangerous sexual predators, many more are still out there who will continue to try and target our children,” said Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni. “Law enforcement can't be everywhere at every moment, so it is critical that parents and kids remain vigilant each day to prevent victimization."

The three-day operation, which concluded on Saturday, involved the collaboration of the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Team, Fresno Regional Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fresno Police Department, and the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. The suspects were taken into custody and face charges by the Fresno County District Attorney's Office, including violations of Penal Code Section 288.3-communicating with a minor for the purposes of sex and Penal Code Section 288.4-meeting with a minor for the purpose of sex.

Attorney General Bonta launched DOJ’s Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Teams in June 2021. These teams, led by California DOJ, are located throughout the state including the Central Valley, Sacramento, and San Diego. The teams have taken significant action to support law enforcement partners in disrupting and dismantling human trafficking and the criminal exploitation of children. To date, the teams have taken the following actions, including:

• “Operation Bad Barbie” in Bakersfield on August 2023, resulting in the arrest of 22 suspects and three survivors assisted.
• “Operation Better Pathways” in San Diego and National City, in February 2023, resulting in 48 arrested, 41 survivors assisted, and the seizure of two firearms, including a ghost gun.
•  “Operation Home for the Holidays” in San Diego, National City and Santee in December 2022, resulting in the arrest of five suspects, the assistance of 21 survivors, and the seizure of a high capacity magazine, a loaded firearm, and approximately 1.8 pounds of marijuana.
•  “Operation Century Week” in San Diego in November 2022, resulting in the arrest of 30 individuals.
•  “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild” in San Diego, Fresno, and Sacramento counties in February 2022, resulting in the arrest of 30 suspects and the assistance of 72 survivors.
•  “Operation Linkup” in Kings County in September 2021, resulting in the arrest of 17 suspects.

Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery where perpetrators profit from the control and exploitation of men, women, and children for sex or labor through force, fraud, or coercion. Human trafficking does not require movement across borders. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were more than 1,300 human trafficking cases reported in California in 2021 — more than any other state in the nation. In California, human trafficking is prevalent in the hospitality, commercial sex, domestic work, and construction industries. Victims of human trafficking are also found among migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, providers of residential care, and in California’s garment sector. 

If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to access help and services. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Additional information and resources to support survivors of human trafficking are available here. 

It is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

ROSEVILLE — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, along with Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire, announced the sentencing of Nathaniel Cabacungan for the June 2022 homicide of J. Wolf, a 15-year-old female from Roseville. Cabacungan, a 20-year-old Roseville resident, supplied Wolf with fake M-30 pills that resulted in her fentanyl overdose death. Cabacungan was arrested on August 10, 2022, after an investigation by the Placer County Special Investigation Unit (PSIU), led by the California Department of Justice and in collaboration with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Roseville Police Department, Rocklin Police Department, Auburn Police Department, the Placer County Probation Department, and the Placer County District Attorney's Office. Today, a judge in the Placer County Superior Court sentenced Cabacungan to 15 years to life after he pled guilty to homicide. 

“Throughout the nation, we continue to address the impacts of the opioid crisis, and have, in recent years, seen a marked increase in fentanyl use and associated deaths,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today we grieve the loss of yet another young life to this drug — a loss that should never have occurred in the first place. We hope that today’s sentencing brings some sense of closure to this young woman’s family. Let this be a warning to the poison peddlers in California's neighborhoods: We will hold you accountable. I want to thank the Placer County District Attorney and our law enforcement partners in Placer County for working with us to make our community safer."

“Our message is simple: do not sell this poison in Placer County. This historic sentence affirms our county’s commitment to holding fentanyl dealers accountable,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. “Through aggressive prosecution, county-wide investigations, support from our local officials, and our 1 Pill Can Kill Placer campaign, we will save lives through education, enforcement and empowering our community members. We will continue to stand with the Wolf family to honor her memory by educating our kids of the dangers of fentanyl.” 

Fentanyl is a powerful and potentially addictive synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. A small amount of fentanyl, just two milligrams, can result in overdose and potentially death.

Attorney General Bonta continues DOJ’s work with local, state, and federal partners to end the fentanyl crisis through efforts with state and local law partners, securing ongoing funding for DOJ fentanyl enforcement, operations to remove fentanyl from California communities including in Placer and Merced Counties, and legal actions to hold manufacturers and distributors accountable. Since April 2022, DOJ fentanyl seizures totaled approximately 9,348,852 fentanyl pills seized, 1,213 pounds of powder seized, and over 200 arrests.