Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A man convicted on a slew of federal human trafficking crimes will face sentencing in November after being convicted August 8, police said. John Willie Morgan was found guilty of human trafficking of a minor for a commercial sex act, lewd acts on a child, oral copulation of a person under 16 and two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, Pomona Police said. The crimes date back to August 25, 2017 when undercover officers with the Pomona Police Major Crimes Task Force were conducting high-visibility patrols on Holt Avenue to combat prostitution.
Police witnessed the underage girl talk to several motorists before getting into another vehicle. The driver, identified as Morgan, was stopped in the parking lot of a nearby shopping center, Pomona Police said. “Morgan admitted to officers he drove the underage female victim to Pomona to earn money through sexual acts,” Pomona Police said. Morgan will be sentenced in November. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Firefighters discovered 200 to 300 burnt marijuana plants after extinguishing a house fire last week. Firefighters responded to a house fire at 1509 Kenan Wy at 2:33 a.m. August 21. The marijuana plants were discovered after firefighters checked the home for victims once the flames were extinguished, according to the Pomona Police Department. “Located inside the residence were various amounts of chemicals commonly associated with marijuana cultivation,” Pomona Police said in a written statement.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department Hazmat Detail helped to render the home safe. “The property owner and or renter is unknown and there no suspects are in custody. This is an ongoing investigation,” Pomona Police said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Undercover officers rescued a 17-year-old and arrested a woman accused of human trafficking while conducting surveillance on Holt Avenue August 21. Police said 18-year-old Dominique Frazier was coaching the underage girl on how to offer sex acts in exchange for money, according to the Pomona Police Department. Officers with the department’s Major Crimes Task Force were conducting undercover surveillance on Holt Avenue, known nationally as “The Blade” for its criminal activity. The teen was interviewed and given appropriate resources, Pomona Police said.
Frazier was booked on suspicion of human trafficking of a minor and loitering to commit prostitution. Frazier was later released August 23 on her court date under California Penal Code 849(b)(1), due to insufficient grounds for making a criminal complaint, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A suspect is facing a list of charges after he turned himself in Wednesday after video of him throwing a large rock at an occupied vehicle was widely publicized.
26-year-old Jacob Makwana was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, throwing an object at moving vehicle with intent to cause great bodily injury felony vandalism, according to the Pomona Police Department. A concerned resident witnessed Makwana and others possibly involved in illegal dumping around 10:30 a.m. August 9 near Towne Avenue and the 60 freeway. The resident told the group to stop and called police. Makwana became irate at the resident who began recording him. He began hitting the resident’s vehicle. Makwana rushed back to the SUV, grabbed and large cement boulder and struck the resident’s windshield, causing heavy damage. Makwana fled in the SUV. Police identified Makwana from the video and sought public assistance in apprehending him. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A man died at a nearby hospital after being found wounded by gunfire August 16. Police found the man wounded in the 1100 block of East Pasadena Street at 7:36 p.m. Friday. Police have yet to provide details on a suspect or vehicle description. “We are actively working the scene to obtain addtional information and interview potential witnesses,” Pomona Police said. Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Four adults were issued citations, accused of purchasing tobacco for people who stated they were under 21 years old, police announced Thursday.
The citations were part of a “tobacco minor decoy” operation held August 15 where the decoys, under the supervision of sworn officers, stood outside stores licensed to sell tobacco and ask adults to purchase tobacco for them. The 18-year-old and 15-year-old decoys contacted eight adults, four of which are accused of purchasing tobacco for them, Pomona Police said. The adults were stopped by police after the tobacco was furnished to the decoys and were issued citations. The adults are expected to appear at future court dates, Pomona Police said. “A concerned effort is being made to reduce the availability of tobacco to minors, and Shoulder Tap Operations are a known method to reduce the availability of tobacco to minors,” Pomona Police said. Decoy operations are part of the California DOJ Tobacco Grant Project, funded by the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tax Act (Proposition 56). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - A drug trafficker was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison August 5 for crimes committed during a 2015 pursuit. Jose Guadalupe Fermin led Pomona officers on a short chase, but was taken into custody without incident in a residential area November of 2015. A loaded, stolen handgun and methamphetamine were located inside Fermin’s vehicle, Pomona Police said. Two pounds of meth was also discovered after being tossed by Fermin during the pursuit. “Based on the seriousness of the crimes and Fermin’s criminal history, Fermin was indicted by the federal grand jury,” Pomona Police said. Fermin pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, Pomona Police said.
Fermin was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force: a multi-agency team comprised of members of the FBI, DEA, Pomona Police Department, El Monte Police Department, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The task force is committed to investigating and prosecuting violent gang members and high-level drug traffickers in the San Gabriel Valley. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Police announced Wednesday the arrest of a Chino auto shop owner after finding weapons and possibly drugs for sale at his business. The Pomona Police Major Crimes Task Force and officers with the east region Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention team conducted a business check at the Chino auto shop in the 3700 block of East Grand Avenue August 7. The owner, 42-year-old Juan Manuel Moreno Valdez, gave consent and signed a search waiver, Pomona Police said.
Police found methamphetamine and 100 hydrocodone pills believed to be for sale, ammunition and two unregistered firearms, one being stolen, Pomona Police said. Valdez was booked on suspicion of drug sales while armed, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a stolen and loaded firearm. The suspect was booked at the West Valley Detention Center. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - Four suspected burglars were arrested August 5 after residents reported suspicious men in their neighborhood. Officers located stolen property along the path two of the suspects took while leaving the scene along Canyon Rim Road. When questioned, the suspects made incriminating statements, according to the Pomona Police Department. A resident witnessed the suspects around 4 a.m. and called police. As police were arriving, a second caller also reported seeing suspicious men near a black SUV. Two suspects were detained near the SUV and two more suspects were detained a short distance away, Pomona Police said.
A witness helped to identify all suspects, Pomona Police said. Arrested were 18-year-old Nicholas Andrete, an El Monte man; 18-year-old George Hernandez, 18-year-old Andrew Becerra and 19-year-old Denison Moran. The latter three are from Pomona. All four were booked on suspicion of burglary. |
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