SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced today to 11 years and four months in state prison today for pimping four women and smashing a car window when one of the victims attempted to escape. Clifford Tyrone Lawrence, 28, San Francisco, pleaded guilty on Feb. 21, 2017, to four felony counts of pimping, one felony count of pandering, and one misdemeanor count of vandalism causing damage of $400 or more.

Circumstances of the Case

Lawrence is a pimp who exploits women for financial gain. The victims are often required to turn over all payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp.

Between Aug. 14, 2015, and Sept. 6, 2015, Lawrence recruited and encouraged Jane Doe 5 to engage in commercial sex acts for his benefit.

On Nov. 26, 2015, Lawrence met and began a romantic relationship with Jane Doe 1. The defendant travelled with Jane Doe 1 to areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County and promised the victim a better life if she engaged in commercial sex for his benefit. Between Nov. 26, 2015, and Feb. 22, 2016, Lawrence recruited Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3, and Jane Doe 4 to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial gain.

On Feb. 22, 2016, Jane Doe 1 called a relative for help. Two of the victim's family members and a 6-month-old infant drove to Anaheim to pick up the victim and help her flee from the defendant. Lawrence saw Jane Doe 1 enter the vehicle and sit in the front passenger seat. The defendant approached the vehicle and hit and kicked the front passenger side door and window. Lawrence shattered the vehicle's window, causing glass to fall inside the vehicle and hit the infant.

Officers from the Anaheim Police Department (APD) responded to the scene and began investigating this case with members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF). Lawrence was arrested at the scene.

Members of the OCHTTF and the Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) Office work proactively to protect women and minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. This case was investigated by OCHTTF, a partnership between APD, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Irvine Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department, OCDA, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Santa Ana Police Department, and community and non-profit partners.

Deputy District Attorney Daniel Varon of the HEAT Unit prosecuted this case.

Proposition 35 and HEAT

To read more about California's anti-human trafficking Proposition 35 and the OCDA's Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, please visit www.orangecountyda.org and select Human Trafficking Information from the Media Center drop down menu.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 15WF0501 / February 24, 2017