The suspects initially contacted the first victims, 15-year-old females, through Facebook and began exploiting them about four days later. The victims left home and were reported as runaways while they were being exploited. During the course of the investigation, Detectives learned about an additional juvenile female and two adult females being exploited. Some of the victims were transported to Tucson, AZ and El Paso, TX.
The suspects used Backpage.com to advertise and locate commercial sex buyers and received the proceeds from exploiting the victims.
Detectives located the suspects at a hotel near Metro Center Mall in Phoenix. The suspects were taken into custody by Mesa PD SWAT and Detectives. An adult female victim was with the suspects at the time of arrest.
In Arizona, the average age of a victim entering into sex trafficking is 14-years old. The victimization and trauma of sex trafficking alters the lives of our victimized women and children. We as a society must act to end the victimization of women – especially our young women. If you have information about someone being trafficked, contact your local police department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org
The Mesa Police Department partners with organizations and survivor advocates to assist victims after being exploited or trafficked.
Our partnership with the Hickey Family Foundation was crucial to the success of this investigation.
Oshay Small, Age 24
Charges:
• 3 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Using Minor for Prostitution
(ARS 13-3212A2, Class 2 Felony)
• 2 Counts of Sex Trafficking (ARS 13-1307A2, Class 2 Felony)
• 3 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Enticing and Transporting
(ARS 13-3212A5, Class 2 Felony)
• 2 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Receive Proceeds from Juveniles (ARS 13-2312C, Class 3 Felony)
• 2 Counts of Receiving Earnings of Prostitution – Adults
(ARS 13-3204, Class 5 Felony)
• 1 Count of Illegal Control of an Enterprise
(ARS 13-2312A, Class 3 Felony)
Oshay Small is being held at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Jail on $75,000 bond.
Cornelius Small, Age 21
Charges:
• 2 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Using Minor for Prostitution
(ARS 13-3212A2, Class 2 Felony)
• 2 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Enticing and Transporting
(ARS 13-3212A5, Class 2 Felony)
Cornelius Wells is being held at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Jail on $50,000 bond.
