Six Men Arrested, Three Victims Rescued in Central Coast Sex Trafficking Sweep

San Luis Obispo County’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force rescued three female sex trafficking victims and arrested six people during a January 2026 enforcement push tied to the statewide Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Dan Dow announced.

The local operation ran January 25–31, 2026, and unfolded across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Investigators rescued two adult women and one juvenile under 18 and made six arrests over six days of enforcement operations.

This year marked eight years that the San Luis Obispo County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force has participated in the annual Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, which is led by the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force.

“Prostitution demand fuels a lucrative market that traffickers exploit with victims—including children—even here,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “Our local anti-trafficking operations target this commercial sex demand to curb daily exploitation of minors and adults. Warning to sex buyers: reconsider, as your actions heighten risks for ~300,000 American children annually. You can and will be prosecuted if caught.”

Authorities said this year’s statewide effort included more than 80 federal, state, and local agencies and task forces focused on combatting human trafficking across California, resulting in over 611 arrests and 170 victims rescued, including 14 juveniles.

“Our partnership with DeliverFund powered our Central Coast operation’s success—disrupting trafficking networks, rescuing victims, and arresting a trafficker and five men communicating with or attempting to meet with juveniles for sexual purposes,” Dow added. “Most importantly, with their help, we were able to rescue three trafficking victims. DeliverFund’s support made our community safer.”

Arrests and charges

Esteban Ceja (DOB: 03/03/1995), San Diego

Arrested and charged with numerous felony crimes related to sex trafficking of a victim using force and fear to accomplish the commercial sexual exploitation of the victim, as defined in Penal Code section 236.1(b). Ceja is also charged with two felony counts of pimping, two felony counts of pandering, and one count of providing false identifying information to law enforcement.

A review of Ceja’s criminal history shows he was twice previously removed from the United States by the Department of Homeland Security in 2018 and 2020. Prosecutors noted this fact does not affect the case and, as in all cases, a defendant is legally entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law by judge, jury, or their plea.

An ongoing investigation into Ceja’s alleged trafficking activities is believed to span from San Diego and the Inland Empire to Northern California and many locations in between.

Anyone with information about this individual is encouraged to contact San Luis Obispo Crime Stoppers. Ceja is scheduled for a Pre-Preliminary Hearing in Superior Court, Department 1, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Five additional suspects were arrested on allegations of communicating with a minor or arranging to meet a minor for the purpose of committing a sexual offense with the child or teen. Three of these cases occurred in San Luis Obispo County and two in Santa Barbara County:

Gael Pitaabarca (DOB: 03/24/2007), Paso Robles
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes

Stephan Mueller (DOB: 12/01/1963), Los Osos
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes
PC 288.3(A) Contact with Minor for Sexual Offense

Singh Ashvir (DOB: 10/03/2003) San Luis Obispo
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes

Gonzalo Luna-Penafort (DOB: 08/18/2003) Santa Maria [booked in Santa Barbara County]
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes 

Arturo Deleon (DOB: 03/30/1986), Santa Maria, [booked in Santa Barbara County]
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes

Victim rescues

Investigators rescued three female sex trafficking victims — two adults and one juvenile under the age of 18 — in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties during the operation. The effort was aimed at disrupting networks of human trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation occurring on the Central Coast, identifying and assisting survivors of trafficking, and reducing the demand for trafficking and exploitation of minors by identifying and prosecuting would-be purchasers.

Agencies involved

Local enforcement was a joint collaborative effort among multiple Central Coast agencies in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, including investigators from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office – Special Operations Unit, Special Victim’s Unit, and Major Crimes Unit; DeliverFund; California Highway Patrol – Investigative Services Unit; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Santa Maria Field Office; Santa Maria Police Department; San Luis Obispo County Probation Department; Grover Beach Police Department; San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Bureau of Investigations along with their 3CFL unit; and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney – Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.

Background

The San Luis Obispo County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force was formally established by District Attorney Dan Dow shortly after his election in 2014. According to the Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney, the Central Coast’s participation in Operation Reclaim and Rebuild continues to be focused on rescuing victims, disrupting criminal trafficking networks, and reducing demand that fuels exploitation.