James Arthur Powell (DOB 12/27/86), of Sacramento, was sentenced following a guilty plea to charges of human trafficking of a minor, pimping and pandering. Four separate victims were alleged in the complaint.
The charges stem from incidents on March 20, 2018, in Camarillo. While assisting the Citrus Heights Police Department regarding a runaway juvenile, Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies discovered two female juveniles and a young adult woman in a hotel room. Evidence at the scene led investigators to believe that the women were trafficked by an unknown person. An extensive investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Powell was responsible for trafficking the victims. During the course of the trafficking, Powell drove the victims from the Sacramento area to Los Angeles and Ventura counties where they were expected to engage in commercial sex activities. One of the victims reported that Powell battered and threatened her.
Judge Bruce Young sentenced Powell to nine years in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Powell will be required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290.Â
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.
Follow the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on Twitter @VenturaDAOffice
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