In August, the Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force went undercover, arresting eight 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, “There is a clear link between prostitution and human trafficking.  Human trafficking exists even here in Lake County, and the traffickers often prey on our most vulnerable.  Over the last two years the Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force has successfully rescued five women being trafficked.”

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

Alexis Torres, 47, of the 1000 block of Merton Avenue, Waukegan

David Brown, 45, of the 6200 block of 12th Avenue, Kenosha, WI

Efren Renedo, 18, of the 3000 block of West Grandville Avenue, Waukegan

Jaime Gonzalez, 21, of the 1200 block of Witchwood Court, Round Lake Beach

Purnell Caradine, 39, of the 12800 block of 71st Street, Kenosha, WI

Randall Nesst, 59, of the of the 3500 block of South McIntosh Lane, New Berlin, WI

Scott Walker, 27, of the 10200 block of West Pickford Avenue, Beach Park

Andrew Desmedt, 44, of the 900 block of Goodwin Drive, Park Ridge 

All of the above subjects were charged with Solicitation of a Sexual Act (Class A Misdemeanor) and have a return court date of September 10, 2018 at 8:45AM in courtroom C-401.  

Desmedt was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (Class 1 Felony) and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony). Desmedt posted 10% of his $10,000.00 bond and is due back in court on October 11, 2018 at 9:00AM in courtroom T110.

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