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OCS capture alleged fugitive human trafficker

June 30, 2025

CDCR’s Office of Correctional Safety’s (OCS) Fugitive Apprehension Team (FAT) and Criminal Intelligence and Analysis Unit (CIAU) recently tracked down and captured an alleged human trafficker who had been on the run for years.

When Special Agent Julian Marquez with FAT learned a high-risk sex offender CDCR parolee was allegedly involved in human trafficking, he took action. Marquez quickly enlisted his CIAU colleagues to help apprehend him. After removing his Global Positioning System (GPS) monitor, the suspect crossed state lines and traveled outside the country, leaving behind a string of victims.

“I would be very scared of the analysts. They can find anybody,” Marquez said.

The FAT and CIAU are two of the six sub-units within the OCS. Their mission is to protect the public and serve the CDCR investigative and security interests.

OCS: Bringing a fugitive to justice

While searching for the suspect, Marquez reached out to his connections in Denver, CO. Investigators there had an indictment identifying 71 victims he was involved with trafficking.

Once he learned about the indictment, he reached out to his CIAU partners since they can access national information. CIAU analysts and special agents have access to this information and are willing to help others. Once a referral is sent to CIAU, a workup is completed. The analysts identify relevant information to help locate a suspect.

CIAU provided Special Agent Marquez with the workup identifying several internet sites and names he had been using.

“What I did is created a page and acted like I was soliciting, and in return I got from that page a menu of services and fees. I agreed to a fee and a location was sent to me which was a hotel in Anaheim,” he said.

Subsequently, FAT was responsible for apprehending the suspect and finding his victim, who also identified herself as his girlfriend. Additionally, Anaheim Police Department responded to assist with the follow up investigation and booking of the suspect into Orange County Jail.

“When there is an individual traveling to different states, luring these victims with false hopes or targeting (those) in the foster community, (capturing them) is a sense of accomplishment,” Marquez said. “It’s a good feeling to know this individual will be going back to prison for a long time. (They) won’t be a risk to society.”

Getting justice, help for victims

As for the suspect’s victim?

“We were able to link her up with her family in Tennessee,” said Marquez. “We linked her with support systems and were able to get her back home. She was 18 and had her life in front of her. Once we got him out of the way, she just wanted to call her mom and go back home.”

The suspect is in custody pending federal human trafficking charges. Orange County is looking to combine their charges with the Colorado charges.

While a CIAU special agent’s primary assignment is not field based, they often work dual roles. They gather intelligence and often conclude the case in the field. Many times, they act as a resource for field units within OCS, Division of Adult Parole Operations, Division of Adult Institutions and external agencies.

Regardless of the role they play, they say they still feel gratitude in aiding with saving these young victims.

“When we close the case, I may be excited that we made an arrest. At the same time, especially with human trafficking, there are still many victims out there. I know we can’t help everyone,” said CIAU Special Agent Amanda Waldeck.

Marquez echoed her sentiments.

“I would be naive to think I could stop all trafficking. But, with the suspect being put away, there are 71 people no longer (being victimized),” said Marquez.

What is the Office of Correctional Safety?

“(The) unit’s primary mission is to keep California citizens safe by apprehending violent and high-risk offenders who are fugitives from CDCR,” Marquez said.

Marquez works in one of the busier areas as part of the Los Angeles Fugitive Apprehension Team.

“We have about 10 members. Each agent has a CDCR case load of high-risk sex offenders who are deemed the most violent based on their offenses” he explained.

They also work on cases involving gangs. More recently, their cases involve people who have been paroled who were originally sentenced to life.

“Usually, the night before, we identify potential locations of the fugitives. The next day, we put out a brief location and meet as a team to execute the operation.”

Marquez and his team work three to four operations a day, from early in the morning to late at night. As part of a fugitive task force, they work alongside outside law enforcement agencies.

“Most of these guys we are after, they are doing everything possible in order for us not to find them.”

Joining forces to combat human trafficking

Both Marquez and Waldeck had the same message for the public: stay alert and be aware of the signs of human trafficking.

“It is a crime that goes unseen because people don’t realize the impact trafficking has on our community,” Marquez said.

“There are so many different areas of law enforcement,” Waldeck said. “I truly believe if we all worked together collaboratively to combat human trafficking, we could make a large impact.”

If you, or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, here are several resources: