HSI San Diego, task force investigation results in 9-year sentence for California man who sex trafficked a child
SAN DIEGO – A Pasadena man was sentenced on Sept. 20 to nine years in prison for sex trafficking a 14-year old girl in the fall of 2020. Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case.
“HSI is committed to aggressively investigating the heinous criminals that knowingly and willingly exploit children and victims,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “In addition to investigating and arresting these predators, HSI utilizes a victim-centered approach to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the victims that are impacted by these crimes.”
Daylan Lamont Camp, 28, of Pasadena, pleaded guilty on Nov. 29, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of children.
On Nov. 16, 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) contacted HSI with information related to a 14-year-old girl with an active online commercial sex advertisement located in San Diego. NCMEC conveyed that Los Angeles County officials reported the girl as a runaway and that between August and November 2020, it had identified multiple commercial sex advertisements on various websites featuring her image throughout Southern California, including in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego.
The same day, HSI and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force located an advertisement for the girl offering commercial sex in San Diego. They conducted an undercover operation that ultimately led to the recovery of the girl and an adult woman who was also engaging in commercial sex at the hotel. Authorities searched the girl’s cellphone and discovered numerous conversations between her and the defendant about commercial sex work. During these conversations, the defendant referred to the 14-year-old as “baby hoe.”
In his plea, Camp admitted that he communicated with an adult woman about having the 14-year-old engage in commercial sex acts. Specifically, he admitted that he and the adult woman agreed to obtain and maintain the minor, who they knew was under 18 years of age, for the minor to engage in commercial sex acts. To achieve their goal, Camp and the adult woman obtained hotel rooms for the girl and arranged for her to travel to San Diego, where the sex acts were slated to occur.
On or about Nov. 15, 2020, Camp and the adult woman arranged for the minor to travel by bus from the Los Angeles area to San Diego to engage in commercial sex acts. The defendant then posted commercial sex advertisements for the minor. The girl traveled to San Diego, engaged in commercial sex acts, and gave the proceeds to the defendant.
“Sex trafficking is a reprehensible crime that has traumatic consequences for children, including long-lasting physical and psychological harm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “We will do everything we can to seek justice for trafficking victims.”
This was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Sherwood and Katherine McGrath.
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section. Formed in 2019, the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking and Project Safe Childhood. The VCHT Section also provides federal prosecutors to the downtown San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, the North County Gang Task Force and the East County Gang Task Force.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected sex trafficking through its toll-free tip line at 866-347-2423. Investigators staff the tip line around the clock. From outside the United States and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
HIS is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HIS’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HIS’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
Updated: