'Hooker & John' Sting Nets 19 in Petaluma, Sonoma County Motels

Editor's note: One person's name was removed from this report because his or her criminal charges were dropped.

A multi-agency operation targeting purchasers and providers of commercial sex netted 19 arrests in three Sonoma County cities last week, a Santa Rosa police sergeant said.

On Friday three operations conducted simultaneously in Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa at local hotels and motels were set up to target specific elements of criminal behavior, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Terry Anderson said.

The Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force was prompted to conduct these operations after law enforcement officials noticed an increase in the solicitation for and the purchase of commercial sex in the area, Anderson said.

Many advertisements found by law enforcement officers in Sonoma County specifically mentioned that they were in the area of the Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park, according to Anderson.

Law enforcement officials do not have any information that suggests the Graton Resort and Casino, which opened in November 2013, condones or facilitates prostitution or sex trafficking, Anderson said, adding that the casino is not responsible for crimes committed by individuals who frequent their establishment.

One of the goals of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Innocence Lost Workgroup in Oakland, which took part in the operations, is to participate and assist local agencies in addressing sex trafficking of children, Anderson said.

In Petaluma, operations targeted those who provided commercial sex and underage victims involved in sex trafficking.

Six people were arrested after they agreed to provide commercial sex services and went to a hotel where undercover detectives were waiting for them.

Sunny Lauchaire, 37, and Kerri Sinkus, 49, both of Santa Rosa, were arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Lauchaire was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine.

Sacramento residents Jessica Carrillo, 20, and Kandice Jones, 21, were arrested for solicitation of prostitution Carillo was also arrested for violation of probation, while Jones was also arrested for outstanding warrants.

Michael Foster, also known as Marcus Foster, 27, of Sacramento, was arrested for aiding in prostitution and violation of parole.Livermore resident Jessica Steiner, 27, and Lower Lake resident Jamisynn Obryan, 25, were both arrested for solicitation of prostitution.

Additionally, one person was arrested and two others are under investigation for aiding in prostitution in Petaluma, Anderson said.

In Rohnert Park, operations targeted those who responded to advertisements for commercial sex services.

After communicating with undercover detectives who had previously placed advertisements on prostitution-related Internet sites, five people separately arrived at a hotel and were arrested by waiting officers, Anderson said.

Roberto Rodriguez Estrada, 46, of Windsor, Steve Paredes, 23, of Petaluma and Santa Rosa residents Ezequil Marquez-Cortez, 41, Randy Bodmer, 39, and Christian Sanabria, 21, were all arrested for solicitation of prostitution, police said.

In Santa Rosa, operations targeted people who responded to advertisements for commercial sex services.

Officers placed an emphasis on arresting those who requested sexual services from a 13-year-old girl, Anderson said. The suspects arrested contacted undercover detectives in response to an advertisement.

Two of the seven suspects requested to have sex with a fictional girl who they were told was 13 years old.

Santa Rosa residents Heriberto Cruz Ramirez, 23, Anthony Zapata, 40, and Angel Cazarez, 37 were arrested for solicitation of prostitution, police said.

Benito Martinez Guzman, 35, and Cesar Briceno, 45, both of Santa Rosa, were arrested for arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes, according to Anderson.

The Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force, comprised of the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Santa Rosa Police Department, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and Petaluma Police Department spearheaded the operations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Innocence Lost Workgroup in Oakland and support of
numerous other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area.

Other organizations that assisted law enforcement were:

• Verity,
• Sonoma County Family, Youth and Children's Services,
• Drug Abuse Alternatives Center,
• Face to Face,
• Social Advocates for Youth,
• Windsor Soroptimist International
• and Crossing the Jordan Foundation.

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