SANTA ANA, Calif. – A felon from Oakland was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in state prison today for human trafficking, pimping, and pandering two teenagers in Alameda County and Orange County.

Circumstances of the Case

• Golston is a human trafficker/pimp who exploits women and/or children for financial gain. Pimps often assign ranks to the women they exploit. The victims are often required to turn over all payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp. Failure to follow these rules can result in physical and/ or emotional abuse.
• In May 2017, Golston, a parolee with two prior strike convictions, met 18-year-old Jane Doe 1 and began trafficking the victim in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking.
• Prior to November 2017, and while also trafficking Jane Doe 1, the defendant pandered 18-year-old Jane Doe 2 and forced both victims to engage in commercial sex acts for his benefit in Alameda County and Orange County.
• Golston used violence and fear to control the victims, including punching Jane Doe 2 in the face on at least one occasion. The defendant kept all of the money Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 received from engaging in commercial sex acts with sex purchasers.
• At approximately 6:50 a.m. on Nov. 19, 2017, a Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) patrol officer conducted a traffic stop on the defendant's vehicle in an area known for prostitution and human trafficking and noticed Jane Doe 1, who was visibly bruised on her arms, and Jane Doe 2, who had a black eye, in the backseat.
• Pursuant to the terms of Golston's parole, SAPD Officer Doe conducted a search of his person and vehicle, where he found $2,500 in cash, empty condom boxes, and lingerie. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2's cell phones contained text messages from the defendant with language consistent with pimping and pandering.
• SAPD, who investigated this case, arrested Golston at the scene.

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver, HEAT Unit

Proposition 35 and Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Each year, January 11 marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and the entire month of January serves as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Month to increase exposure and raise awareness in honor of human trafficking victims.

Members of the OCHTTF and the Orange County District Attorney's Office (OCDA) work proactively each day to protect women and minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. OCHTTF is a partnership between Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Irvine Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department, OCDA, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Santa Ana Police Department, and community and non-profit partners.

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.

*Plea to the court, judge struck two prior serious and violent felony convictions

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 17CF2907 / January 2, 2018