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Santa Ana Police Nab 20 Would-Be Johns In Undercover Prostitution Sting

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) —  The Santa Ana Police Department arrested 20 men Wednesday night as part of an undercover sex sting.

SAPD Vice Detectives arrested 20 males along Harbor Boulevard they said attempted to purchase sex or sex acts from undercover female officers, whom the suspects believed to be prostitutes.

The alleged johns were cited and released.

The 20 cases will be referred to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

The arrested men -- who ranged in age from 18 to 68 -- are:

David Flores, 32, Aliso Viejo

Ariel Castro, 41, Santa Ana

Paulino Lopez, 47, Santa Ana

Felipe Barrera, 32, Garden Grove

Michael Davis, 35, Fountain Valley

Silvestre Jacob, 40, Garden Grove

Anthony Bello, 18, Santa Ana

Oscar Castaneda, 31, Santa Ana

Herbert Yoneoka, 68, Fountain Valley

Omar Moreno, 35, Santa Ana

Noe Hernandez, 34, Santa Ana

Tony Nguyen, 44, Westminster

Luis Ortiz, 27, Santa Ana

Israel Ruiz, 29, Garden Grove

Paulino Martinez, 39, Santa Ana

Christopher Witts, 28, Upland

Jonathan Peralta, 20, Westminster

Heladio Herrera, 20, Santa Ana

David Montano, 31, Anaheim

Rios Francisco, 33, Santa Ana

Santa Ana police said they routinely conduct the anti-prostitution stings to eliminate the demand and reduce the opportunity to sexually exploit women and children.

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