In February, the Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force went undercover, arresting seven men in a continued campaign to suppress the demand for purchased sex.  

The Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force joined a coalition of federal and local law enforcement agencies in a nationwide operation which specifically targeted customers of prostitutes known as “Johns.”

This was a web-based operation and utilized a classified advertising website, regularly used as a medium for prostitution.  When the “Johns” arrived and offered money to the undercover detectives for sexual acts, they were arrested and transported to the Lake County Jail.  

Over the past seven years, this nationwide effort led to the arrests of more than 8,000 total “Johns” and sex traffickers.  

Sheriff Mark Curran said, “Investigating human trafficking is one of the top priorities of the Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force.  Prostitution often involves human trafficking and juvenile sex trafficking, which is exactly why we conduct these investigations.”

Arrested in the 4100 block of Fountain Square Place, Waukegan:

Marquez Evelio, 55, of the 1000 block of 67th Street, Kenosha
Jeremy P. Hoen, 29, of the 2900 block of Dominion Lane, Lakemoor
Luis Lopez-Arellano, 32, of the 42300 block of Delany Road, Zion
Raymond Berger, 33, of the 21500 block of West Nielson Drive, Lake Villa
Luis E. Carednas, 48, of the 2600 block of Peppertree Lane, Waukegan
Dionicio S. Pott, 37, of the 400 block of Hull Court, Waukegan
Elmer E. Rosales, 54, of the 700 block of Center Street, Waukegan

All of the above individuals were charged with Solicitation of a Sexual Act.  They are all due in court on March 12, 2018 at 8:45AM in courtroom C-150.

Sheriff Curran reminds the public the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.