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 a three-day sting operation throughout San Diego County, targeting s*x buyers over Comic-Con weekend.
During a three-day operation from July 24 to 26, 2025, the California Department of Justice’s SDHTTF conducted a demand reduction operation targeting s*x buyers that resulted in 13 arrests for solicitation.
“My office is proud of the dedicated work of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force on this demand reduction operation,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Solicitation is a crime, and these arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that we stand ready to hold them accountable. The demand for commercial s*x is a driving factor that contributes to human trafficking, where perpetrators profit from the exploitation of people for s*x or labor by force, fraud, or coercion. We are grateful to all our dedicated partners involved in the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, whose collaboration has been invaluable.”
As part of the operation, agents went undercover to initiate contact with s*x buyers throughout San Diego County, resulting in 13 arrests for solicitation, in violation of Penal Code 647(b)(2). Solicitation is a crime subject to jail time and monetary penalties. While not all commercial s*x is linked to human trafficking, the demand for commercial s*x is a driving force that contributes to human trafficking, as human traffickers profit from forced or coerced commercial s*x work. S*x buyers may unknowingly contribute to human trafficking by engaging in Solicitation.
In advance of Comic-Con weekend, Attorney General Bonta and Comic-Con International partnered together to raise awareness of human trafficking and provide resources for the public to assist in the fight to combat human trafficking. Events like Comic-Con, which bring thousands of people together, are a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking, a crime that comes in many forms, including s*x trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude resulting from force, fraud, or coercion. Everyone can play a role in stopping this unlawful activity by being aware of the signs and reporting any suspicious activity.
If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to access help and services. If you are, or someone else, is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
SDHTTF is a cooperative effort involving the California Department of Justice, 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 S*xual Predator Apprehension Teams serving Northern California and Southern California.
As of August 2025, solicitation in San Diego, California, is treated as a criminal offense with varying penalties depending on the circumstances:
1. General Solicitation (Adults)
Under California Penal Code §647(b)(2), solicitation of pr*stitution remains a misdemeanor offense. Penalties can include:
- Jail time
- Fines (typically up to $1,000)
- Probation
- Mandatory counseling or community service
2. Soliciting Minors
A new law, Assembly Bill 379, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and co-sponsored by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, significantly increases penalties for soliciting minors:
- If the adult is at least three years older than a 16- or 17-year-old, the offense is now a felony.
- If the age gap is less than three years, it remains a misdemeanor, but still illegal.
This law, which takes effect January 1, 2026, reinstates criminal penalties for loitering with the intent to purchase s*x—reversing parts of Senate Bill 357 from 2022 that had decriminalized such loitering.
Editor’s Note – we had to censor some words in this post to satisfy Google Ads reviewers.