Mesa Police Detectives completed another operation targeting the demand side of prostitution to reduce human trafficking within Mesa. Operation Sleigh Ride utilized officers and undercover detectives from various units within the Department who placed Ads on websites commonly sought out by suspects seeking illegal sex acts. The suspects solicited and/or brokered deals for various sex acts and were arrested when they responded to the location where they were supposed to meet for sex.
Each year the Mesa Police Department conducts operations of this type in a continuous effort to reduce the demand that fuels human sex trafficking from our community. Suspects willing to solicit sex acts for money, fuel that demand.
The suspects in the latest operation ranged in age from 57 to 24 years old.
The Mesa Police Department partners with organizations and survivor advocates to assist victims after being exploited or trafficked. 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
Our partnership with the Hickey Family Foundation was crucial to the success of this investigation.
For more information about human exploitation and trafficking, please visit http://mesaaz.gov/residents/police/departments-divisions/mesa-family-advocacy-center/heat
Individuals arrested:
Hari Lubovac, 42 Tempe, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Harpreet Singh, 48 Phoenix, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Adrian Peric, 57 Phoenix, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Raul Chavez- Escalante, 24 Buckeye, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Tony Gordon, 40 Chandler, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Jesus Felix, 52 Mesa, AZ Prostitution, C1M
