Convicted pimp sentenced to state prison for sex trafficking of minors

san bernardino county

district attorney

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Date: March 25, 2015

Convicted pimp sentenced to state prison for sex trafficking of minors

Huey Reliford (Booking Photo)

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – An Apple Valley man was sentenced today to state prison for sex trafficking of minors.

San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael Dest sentenced 22-year-old Huey Reliford to 14 years and 8 months in state prison.

Last month, a jury found Reliford guilty of two counts of Human Trafficking of a Minor for a Sex Act, two counts of Pimping a Minor 16 years of Age or Older, one count of Pandering by Procuring a Minor over Age 16, one count of Pandering By Procuring a Minor Under Age 16, and one count of Pimping a Minor Under 16 Years of Age.

According to Deputy District Attorney Melissa Rodriguez, who is the lead attorney for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, after his prison sentence, Reliford will be subject to lifetime sex offender registration.

This case was investigated by the Hesperia Police Department and the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is a collaborative partnership of investigators from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

“Thanks to the strong partnership we have with the Sheriff and our dedicated attorneys, we will continue to prosecute those who take advantage of our young victims,” District Attorney Mike Ramos said. “The trafficking of minors is a despicable act and if you are caught and convicted in San Bernardino County, you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Statement of Facts
In May 2014, Reliford was initially contacted at a motel room with two runaway juvenile females. During the initial interview with law enforcement, both minor juveniles were not forthcoming about the nature of their relationship with the defendant. At that time, the San Bernardino Human Trafficking Task Force took over the investigation.

Records were obtained pursuant to search warrants that provided details about the nature and extent of the defendant’s criminal activity involving the minor victims. The case was filed in December of 2014.

According to Deputy District Attorney Melissa Rodriguez, both of the victims testified at trial and denied any wrongdoing on behalf of the defendant.

“This just goes to show the extent of the manipulation that the defendant was able to accomplish with these young girls,” said Rodriguez. “Fortunately, the jury was able to see through that, and convicted the defendant on all counts.”

Quick Facts
In 2014, the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force, which consists of one District Attorney Investigator and one San Bernardino County Sheriff Investigator, obtained 204 arrests.

Additional Links
For more information about efforts being made to abolish Human Trafficking in San Bernardino County, visit http://ow.ly/KGxF6

Contacts

Christopher Lee
Public Affairs Officer
(909) 382-3665

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San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office
303 West 3^rd Street, 6^th Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415

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It is the mission of the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office to represent the interests of the people in the criminal justice system, as mandated by California State law. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office serves the residents of San Bernardino County by: seeking the truth, protecting the innocent; holding the guilty accountable; preserving the dignity of victims and their families; and, ensuring that justice is done while always maintaining the highest ethical standards.

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