AURORA | Aurora police say that results from the first year after the department created a special unit to focus on human trafficking reveal how critical it is to focus on the crime.
“When we set out to create a dedicated human trafficking unit, our mission was clear: Put survivors at the center of our investigations while taking a targeted approach to identifying and holding traffickers accountable,” said Investigations Bureau Commander Marc Paolino said in a statement. “In its first year, this small, highly focused team has made a significant impact, particularly in protecting vulnerable victims and disrupting the sexual exploitation of minors.
The Aurora Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit made 28 arrests and recovered 29 survivors of human trafficking since it was created last September, including 15 minors, police spokesperson Joe Moylan said in a statement Wednesday.
The unit launched 53 investigations during its first 12 months, Moylan said. It has since expanded to three detectives and a supervising sergeant.
The unit works with the department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and employs local, state and federal partnerships and investigative resources through the Colorado Cyber Guardian Task Force, police said.
Among those arrested was Marshae Wheelock, 24, of Aurora. Police said Wheelock is linked to numerous human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases over several years that involve children.
Wheelock is a defendant in three current cases in Arapahoe and Adams district courts, officials said.
In Arapahoe County District Court, Wheelock is charged with trafficking a minor for sexual servitude, pimping a child, pimping, pandering prostitution and engaging in human trafficking for sexual servitude, according to police and court records. He has accepted a plea agreement with Arapahoe prosecutors and is slated for sentencing Nov. 6. He faces eight to 16 years in prison, Moylan said.
In one Adams County case, Wheelock faces charges of trafficking a minor for sexual servitude, pimping a child and pimping. He has agreed to a plea deal in that case, also, and is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 10. He faces 10 years in prison, according to Moylan.
In a separate Adams County case, Wheelock is charged with victim intimidation. Police said investigators determined the alleged crimes were orchestrated from jail. He accepted a plea deal and faces two to six years in prison.
“Marshae Wheelock represents the type of offender the Human Trafficking Unit was created to investigate,” Aurora Deputy Chief Mark Hildebrand said in a statement.
In another investigation, detectives ran an undercover operation in February involving a 16-year-old girl, police said. Investigators recovered the girl and later identified three suspects accused of participating in her sexual trafficking.
Police arrested Aja Abney, 20, Centennial, Dasjuan Goode, 38, Aurora and Damara Hester, 32, Denver. All three face felony charges in Adams County District Court, according to court records.
Abney, who was released from Adams County jail after posting a $30,000 bond, is charged with trafficking a minor for sexual servitude, pandering a child and attempted pimping of a child.
Goode, who is being held on $75,000 bond, is charged with trafficking a minor for sexual servitude and pimping a child.
Hester, who is free after posting a $20,000 bond, is charged with pimping, police said.
The Aurora Police Department said it is one of just a few Colorado agencies with a dedicated human trafficking unit.