Lomita is a city of approximately 20,000 residents, located near Torrance in southwest Los Angeles County, CA. Prostitution activity has been well-documented within the county, and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses.

Consumer level demand provides the revenue stream for all prostitution and sex trafficking, and has therefore been targeted by local law enforcement agencies as a strategy for prevention and response. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has conducted at least one reverse sting in the city. In September of 1996, the LACSD’s vice detail, Lomita Sheriff’s Station, Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Division, with assistance from the Torrance Police Department conducted a street-level reverse sting along the business corridor of Pacific Coast Highway in Lomita and the neighboring communities of Harbor City and Wilmington. A total of 36 sex buyers were arrested during the operation. Of the arrested offenders was a California Highway Patrol officer, whose identity was released by police. According to reports, the CHP initiated an internal investigation to determine the offender’s employment status. It is unclear if the remaining offenders’ identities were disclosed to the public. Similar street-level reverse sting operations have been continually conducted in the city, some resulting in fifteen arrests.