Tip line leads to arrests of two after prostitution operation discovered in Tulare County

A tip to the human trafficking tip line led to the bust of a prostitution operation in Tulare County, Tulare County District Attorney's Office says.

TCDA says that in May 2024, a caller to the hotline reported that while seeking a legitimate massage service in Tulare County, he found a Facebook Marketplace ad for a local massage business in Tipton.

The DA says the man called for an appointment and quickly learned that the business was not legitimate and reported it to the tip line.

The tip was referred to TCDA from the Tulare County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Investigators began working on the case.

According to Officials over the following months, several investigative resources were employed and numerous search warrants were authored for phone records and GPS tracking devices.

Investigators worked with both state and federal authorities, Tulare County Sheriff's Department, Fresno Police Department, FBI, The California Department of Justice and the Tulare Police Department.

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The investigation resulted in the execution of search warrants in both Tulare County and Fresno Counties.

Law Enforcement arrested 27-year-old Enrique Castro Reyes and his sister 30-year-old Erika Castro Reyes.

TCDA investigators arrested the two without incident on August 19, 2024.

According to the DA, prosecutors charged both on the same day with felony pandering by encouragement and pimping.

A good Samaritan, armed with the knowledge of how human trafficking can work and the resources available to him to report it, made the right call," said Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward. "This is exactly why we created the Tulare County Human Trafficking Task Force in 2014 and have dedicated extensive time and energy on shining a light on this type of crime. I am also incredibly encouraged that the people who live and work in our county are taking to heart public awareness campaigns, literature, town halls, and a host of other means of outreach to recognize the possibility of trafficking.

The two remain in custody with a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 30, 2024, in Tulare County Superior Court.