Child trafficking exposed: Oakland woman sold 9-year-old girl to child molester
Child trafficking exposed: Oakland woman sold 9-year-old girl to child molester
Plea deals reached against both defendants
OAKLAND — A city resident was sentenced last month to 18 years in prison for repeatedly selling a 9-year-old girl to a 40-year-old man who molested her, court records show.
Jamia Crochett, 38, pleaded no contest to human trafficking and child molestation charges in exchange for the 18-year prison term. One witness, a relative of Crochett’s, told police she took pictures of the girl’s genitals and sent them to various men as a form of advertisement.
This news organization is not revealing how Crochett knew the girl, in order to protect the victim’s identity.
Zachary Yngojo-Wang, 40, of Oakland, was charged with molesting the 9-year-old girl on at least three occasions. In late March, Yngojo-Wang accepted a 20-year prison term and pleaded no contest to multiple counts of committing a lewd act upon a child, court records show.
In court for Crochett’s sentencing hearing, the girl spoke up before a judge formally handed down the prison term. She said she feels loved and is healing, but still grappling with the “pain from my past.”
“At church today, our pastor said forgive people that hurt you. I am struggling with that,” she said. Later, the girl added, “The trauma of my childhood will not affect my life.”
Police interviewed the girl after receiving a tip about the molestation, and she reported that Crochett had been paid by a man who forcibly molested her on three occasions. In court papers police said the girl reported that “she would plead with the unknown male to stop and attempt to resist, but he would physically overpower her.”
After identifying the man as Yngojo-Wang, police searched his home and found a pistol, large ziplock bags of marijuana, and “large sums of money which indicated narcotics sales,” Oakland police Detective Bradley Sides wrote in court papers. The two were charged in April 2021.
Yngojo-Wang is set to be formally sentenced on May 17. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail in the meantime.
Today, predators can reach vulnerable children through phones, social media, gaming platforms, and the internet, often before families realize something is wrong. Finding Kids responds through three core programs: Recover. Care. Target. We help locate missing and exploited children, support families during and after recovery, and work with law enforcement to identify and disrupt those who exploit youth. Our work continues after a child is found because recovery is only the beginning. By combining investigations, aftercare, and prevention, we help children return safely to their homes, schools, and communities while building a future where every vulnerable child receives help before crisis becomes exploitation. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly towards keeping kids safe. We cannot do this work without your support.
*Names has been changed to protect the victim’s identity.