In Lake County, Illinois, a significant operation spearheaded by the Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group led to the arrest of 27 men as part of efforts to combat human trafficking, as reported by officials.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office detailed that the Special Investigations Group carried out a human trafficking suppression initiative over two days this week. This operation was aimed at decreasing the demand for commercial sex.

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Authorities focused the operation on individuals attempting to engage in purchasing sex through online classified ads. These ads are a common method used by traffickers to exploit human trafficking victims, according to the sheriff’s office.

Undercover detectives posed as individuals offering sex for money, and when the offenders arrived at a Gurnee-area hotel and offered money for sexual acts, they were arrested and transported to the Lake County Jail.

Two of the offenders resisted arrest, the sheriff’s office said. An officer suffered minor injuries in one instance.

“These operations are about protecting victims and holding sex buyers accountable,” said Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg. “Suppressing the demand is a critical piece of dismantling the human trafficking pipeline. If there is no buyer, there is no market.”

Names of those arrested:
Abelardo A. Velasquez, 30, Beach Park
Robert L. Rowels, 39, Ingleside
James A. Kavinsky, 30, Niles
Jamir D. Holmes, 20, Zion
Mathew Reynolds, 23, Pleasant Prairie
Jesus S. Munoz, 35,Woodstock
Hakeem A. Moore, 22, Great Lakes
Jesus Navarrete-Vega, 30, Gurnee
Jesus M. Valdez, 28, Zion
Tyree R.L. Alexander, 32, Gurnee
Alexis M. Lopez, 31, Park City
Adrion E. Reynolds, 21, Park City
Eryk P. Plawinski, 26, Algonquin
Daevieon Garland, 21, Waukegan
Joshua L. Powell, 34, Libertyville
Daniel Corona, 29, Pleasant Prairie
Deybys Matute Moncada, 31, Zion
Charles A. Lintner, 35, Johnsburg
Argyll Piansay, 61, Gurnee
Andre L. Harevey, 41, North Chicago
Ryan P. Gibbs, 26, Libertyville
Ubaldo L. Sanchez, 28, Waukegan
Jonathan R. Litson, 45, Gurnee
Essodong Tchakpala, 25, Round Lake Beach
Adam S.W. Porwit, 26, Twin Lakes
Carl R. Weber, 35, Muskego, WI
John Garcia, 53, Kenosha