Indian-American motel manager arrested in Los Angeles for profiting from prostitution and sex trafficking
An Indian-origin motel manager is one of 10 people arrested and charged as multiple agencies target locations near the notorious Figueroa Corridor in Operation Broken Edge. The Figueroa Corridor is an area in South Los Angeles known for human trafficking and underage prostitution. Mukeshkumar Rambhai Patel, 45, the motel’s on-site manager, has been facing a series of financial crimes related to human trafficking.As agents searched the motel, federal financial crimes investigators told ABC7 Achille was not a human trafficker, but accused him of profiting from prostitution.“The money speaks for itself,” said Jose Gonzalez of IRS Criminal Investigation. “As alleged, individuals associated with this location hid large amounts of illicit cash, altered records and structured deposits to conceal the proceeds of sex trafficking activities.”From September 2024 to January 2026, Ahir deposited $64,581 in proceeds that he knew came from the ring’s sex trafficking of children and adults. Ahir is also accused of “structuring,” depositing small amounts of money at a time into bank accounts opened for that purpose to avoid banks reporting large cash deposits to the U.S. government.
Hoover ring sex trafficking
Many of those arrested were members or associates of the famed Hoover Gang, which authorities said “primarily controls sex trafficking and prostitution along the corridor.” A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday names 51 victims, some as young as 14.The members face charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking of minors, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, drug trafficking conspiracy and money laundering concealment.“The Hoovers recruited new victims through social media or in person, focusing on vulnerable underage girls and young women, particularly those who were financially or emotionally distressed or had run away from home or were in the foster care system,” federal prosecutors said. Victims are recruited through false promises of a luxurious lifestyle, intimidation, and actual or threatened violence. Pimps also provide victims with drugs such as oxycodone and amphetamines, which addict the victims for the pimps to exploit.““They targeted and preyed on the most vulnerable girls in the foster care system. This was taking advantage of human beings to make money for themselves,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essaly.“They would beat them. One of them bit off a piece of flesh from her face, right down to the cartilage,” Essaly said. “One of them was forced to have an abortion and then forced to work that night.”
List of 10 people arrested and charged
Cameron LockettMouton KhalidIt turned out to be MillerJorge MelendezMauricio Ulloa-Franco Jr.Ragland LenoxMukeshkumar Rambhai AhirLenny Ray MannKellan YoungLament Macdonald Williams
