SJPD Arrests Suspect for Commercial Sex Trafficking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

On December 30, 2022, detectives with the Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Investigating Human Trafficking (LEIHT) Task Force and the San José Police Department Human Trafficking Task Force arrested Donnovan Dawkins, 29, of Lanham, Maryland, for commercial sex trafficking related offenses.

Through the collaborative efforts of the Frederick City Police Department, Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force, Office of the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, and with assistance from several other local and federal law enforcement agencies, Suspect Dawkins was taken into custody in Frederick, Maryland.

The investigation, which took place over the course of several months, stemmed from the suspect initiating online contact with who he believed to be a 16-year-old female. Via extensive conversations with an undercover officer, the suspect solicited the female for commercial sex trafficking. Dawkins purchased a flight for the female from San José to Baltimore, Maryland, where he arranged to meet with her with the intention of sexually exploiting her.

An arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, and he was subsequently arrested. In addition, a search warrant was conducted at the suspect’s residence with additional evidence recovered. The investigation is on-going.

Anyone with human trafficking related tips is encouraged to contact either the San José Police Department Human Trafficking Task Force at 408-537-1999 / stopslavery@sanjoseca.gov, or the Law Enforcement Investigating Human Trafficking Task Force at 408-792-2700 / HTTips@dao.sccgov.org. You may also submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.