Sex trafficking victim leads Tulare County authorities to crime ring – Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register

A six-month-long human trafficking operation resulted in the arrest of six Tulare County residents.

During the investigation, Tulare County Human Trafficking detectives say they discovered the same people who were trafficking women for sex were also responsible for a drug trafficking organization.

The investigation began in November 2021, when a victim came forward to report that she'd been raped, beaten and sold for sex. Over time, detectives believe they uncovered who was involved with the alleged trafficking operation, along with crimes suspects are accused of committing.

Additionally, the same suspects allegedly involved in the trafficking ring were also operating a large-scale marijuana operation at several locations, which detectives say was financing the human trafficking operation.

On May 19, search warrants were served at seven homes in various parts of the county.

Evidence was found at each home implicating the main suspects in this case, detectives said. More than 3,760 marijuana plants, 268 pounds of processed marijuana, 615 pounds of semi-processed marijuana, eight firearms, 5 grams of cocaine and 10 pounds of concentrated cannabis were seized by detectives.

Thirteen people were arrested.

After the warrants were served, more victims came forward to report they had also been beaten, raped and trafficked by the same suspects. Detectives didn't release the number of victims that have come forward in this case.

Over the weekend, detectives served additional arrest warrants. The following people were arrested and later charged in the case:

• Oswald Lopez, 22, of Farmersville: Five counts human trafficking of a minor, human trafficking, unlawful sexual intercourse, cultivating cannabis, two counts conspiracy to commit a crime, misdemeanor sexual battery. If convicted, he faces up to 28 years in prison.
• Armando Torres, 43, of Visalia: Five counts human trafficking of a minor, human trafficking, two counts forcible rape, two counts unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts conspiracy to commit a crime, contact with a minor for sexual offense, cultivating cannabis, and misdemeanor sexual battery. If convicted, he faces up to 41 years in prison.
• Amparo Torres, 45, of Visalia: Assault by means of force, cultivating cannabis, and conspiracy to commit a crime. If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.
• Armando Torres Jr., 18 (Armando and Amparo's son): Contact with a minor for sexual offense, meeting a minor for lewd purposes, and unlawful sexual intercourse. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.

Deputies are asking for the public's help to find two additional suspects — Cristian Torres, 27, and Juventino Torres, 43. Both suspects are from Visalia, according to detectives.

Cristian Torres was charged with five counts of human trafficking of a minor, human trafficking, unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts conspiracy to commit a crime, cultivating cannabis, and misdemeanor sexual battery. If convicted, he faces up to 28 years.

Juventino Torres was also charged with five counts human trafficking of a minor, human trafficking, two counts contact with a minor for sexual offense, unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts conspiracy to commit a crime, cultivating cannabis, and misdemeanor sexual battery. If convicted, he faces up to 28 years.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call the Tulare County Sheriff's Department at 733-6218.