June 9, 2023 – Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office officials report that on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, investigators with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested 24-year-old Patterson resident Alex Santana for a second time in 6 months for human trafficking, and now charges related to possession of a firearm.  

While SVU detectives were working as part of operation Reclaim & Rebuild, they arrested Santana in Turlock on January 27, 2023, for pimping, procuring a person for prostitution, and violation of parole when he was discovered to be trafficking a 19-year-old female for sex acts. At the time, he was on parole since May 2022 for carjacking, and had multiple prior convictions for possession of a firearm and carjacking.     

Earlier this month, detectives located an online sex ad with the same female associated with Santana in January. In an attempt to rescue the woman a second time, they conducted an undercover operation, acting as a sex buyer. When they arrived at the Ceres motel room, the female and Santana were both located inside. Santana attempted to flee on foot from investigators when they were arresting him, but he was quickly apprehended. While being searched, Santana said he had a firearm, and a loaded handgun was located on his person.

The female victim was unharmed in the incident. In a coordinated response with non-profit organizations specializing in human trafficking, the Stanislaus Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, led by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, was able to connect the victim with multiple resources to receive services, including relocating her to safe place.

Santana was booked at the Stanislaus County Jail and being held without bail for pimping, pandering, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, not the registered owner of the firearm, parole violation, committing a felony while on bail, and obstructing law enforcement.

If you or anyone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

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Source: Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office