Martinez – Concord: Man pleads guilty to human trafficking charge, gets four years in prison
Martinez – Concord: Man pleads guilty to human trafficking charge, gets four years in prison
He was arrested outside a Concord hotel
MARTINEZ — A man pleaded guilty to a prostitution-related charge and is expected to be sentenced on Wednesday to four years in state prison, according to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.
Lawrence Taylor was arrested in March 2018 as part of a human trafficking sting conducted by the FBI, Concord Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office. The operation targeted dating websites where prostitution advertisements are posted.
Police apprehended Taylor after he drove a woman to a Concord hotel to meet with what turned out to be an undercover police officer. Authorities seized Taylor’s cell phone and found evidence he had encouraged the woman to work as a prostitute and post ads online, including the one that led them to the undercover sting.
Taylor, who was on parole for armed robbery, pleaded guilty to pandering on April 24. Along with four years in state prison, a criminal protective order will be issued barring Taylor from contacting the woman for 10 years. The woman was not arrested. Police connected her with a human trafficking advocate from the District Attorney’s Office.
“Collaborative enforcement operations such as these are key to identifying exploiters in our community, holding them accountable for their crimes, and giving victims an opportunity to connect to services and support,” said Dana Filkowski, a human trafficking unit supervisor in the DA’s office.
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.