Family arrested for alleged human trafficking, Tulare County deputies say. Others wanted
Four people were arrested for alleged human trafficking and other crimes, including some involving minors, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.
Detectives served warrants at seven locations before arresting Oswald Lopez, 22, of Farmersville; Armando Torres, 43, of Visalia; Amparo Torres, 45 of Visalia; and Armando Torres Jr., 18, the office said. The younger Torres is the son of the elder Torreses.
The arrests followed six months of investigations, the office said in a news release.
A victim told deputies in November that they had been raped, assaulted and trafficked, the sheriff’s office said. Detectives said several more victims later came forward to report similar crimes.
After serving a warrant May 19, detectives seized 3,762 marijuana plants, 268 pounds of processed marijuana, 615 pounds of semi-processed marijuana, eight firearms, 5 grams of cocaine and 10 pounds of concentrated cannabis, the sheriff’s office said Monday. Thirteen people were arrested related to those warrants.
The sheriff’s office said deputies are still looking for two others they said were involved in the crimes — 27-year-old Cristian Torrez and 43-year-old Juventino Torres, both of Visalia.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Janae Pinheiro or Sgt. Jessica Vieyra with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Unit at 559-733-6218. Anonymous information can be sent by text or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or at 1-800-TIPNOW.
