Anthony Wilfred Diaz (DOB 06/23/81), of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced following a guilty plea to charges of attempted human trafficking, pimping, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Two victims were alleged in the complaint.
In the last week of January 2020, law enforcement officers from around the State of California participated in a joint investigation known as “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild.” The goal of this operation was to identify crimes of human trafficking, pimping, and pandering within Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties, and to rescue and provide resources to the victims. Law enforcement officers from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Ventura Police Department, Santa Paula Police Department, Oxnard Police Department, San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office, Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and the Ventura County District Attorney Bureau of Investigation participated.
The charges against Diaz stemmed from incidents which took place on January 31, 2020, in the City of Newbury Park. During a surveillance operation, Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies observed Diaz engaged in conduct consistent with pimping. An adult female was rescued from the hotel room and provided with resources. A search of the room uncovered a loaded firearm with a high capacity magazine. While in custody, Diaz attempted to traffic a second victim by threatening her to have her infant taken from her if she refused to engage in prostitution to provide money for Diaz’s bail and attorney.
Judge Michelle Castillo sentenced the defendant to a total term of 8 years in prison for the crimes he committed. Diaz will be required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290.
Was a “Plea Bargin” beneficial to the purpose of justice, or was it just a benefit to the court system and the pimp?
Sure it made for a speedy trial, but in your heart of herts, maybe a trial by jury might have extracted a more reasonable sentence; one that was closer to twenty years if you add all the charges together.