Merced is a city of approximately 86,000 residents, located roughly midway between Fresno and Stockton in Merced County, California. Prostitution and child sex trafficking have been well-documented problems in the city for many years. Some local prostitution is known to have been gang-related, in the form of prostitution rings meant to generate income for gangs. Violence related to prostitution has also been well-documented in the city, including a case of the murder of a woman in 2017, whom police believed had worked in an “indentured servant capacity” through prostitution to pay off underworld travel debts. A Bay Area man was indicted and tried for killing the woman and leaving her body in a Merced trash bin.

In an effort to reduce the consumer-level demand for commercial sex, the Merced Police Department has conducted several reverse stings. For example, during an operation conducted in 2010, 12 sex buyers were arrested within five hours. In September and October 2013, the MPD conducted two “dual” sting operations (targeting sex buyers and prostituted women). When asked about the operations, Merced police stated that they were driven by a recent spike in sex crimes in the area. Specifically, an incident involving a 17-year-old girl allegedly lured into sex trafficking helped launch the investigation and led to the arrests of two suspects. Police were further motivated by an incident in mid-September 2013, wherein three gang members were arrested after allegedly shooting a prostituted woman who refused to make change for a $100 bill. Officers also mentioned that in June 2013, a man was stabbed during an argument over a cell phone that he tried to exchange for commercial sex.

In response to the violence centered around prostitution, Merced police conducted joint sting/reverse sting operations in 2013. They made “at least 34 arrests and citations” during three undercover sting operations aimed at taking down suspected brothels and other areas known for prostitution. At least 24 of those arrested were male sex buyers. All offenders’ names were released to the public. Allegations against those arrested or cited in the case ranged from solicitation and assault to the sex trafficking of a minor and attempted murder. The arrests were the product of a five-month investigation.

In February 2017, officers of the Merced Police Department’s DART (Disruptive Area Response Team) began an undercover internet sting operation targeting sex buyers, sex traffickers, and anyone actively using the internet to engage in commercial sexual activities. From February to April 2017, authorities conducted operations targeting those seeking to sexually exploit minors in exchange for money. Officers posted non-sexual advertisements and, when contacted by the suspects, would engage in online conversations. During these conversations, the suspects would make arrangements to engage in sex acts, even after being told they were a juvenile. The results of the operation are as follows:

• On February 20th, 2017, officers of the DART unit arrested a 48-year-old man at a local fast food restaurant after he arranged to meet a juvenile for sex acts in exchange for narcotics. He was booked at the Merced County Jail for 288.4(b) PC Contact with a minor with intent to commit a sex offense and later served a 180-day sentence.
• On February 22nd, 2017, officers of the DART unit arrested a 36-year-old man in Steven Leanord Park after he arranged to meet a juvenile and take her to his house to engage in sexual acts. He was booked at the Merced County Main Jail for 288.3(a) PC, Contact with a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense.
• On March 1st, 2017, officers of the DART Unit arrested a 23-year-old man at a residence in Merced when he arrived at the location to meet a juvenile, provide narcotics, and perform sex acts with the juvenile. He was booked at the Merced County Main Jail for 288.3(a) PC. He was released after posting a $5000 bond.
• On March 6th, 2017, officers of the DART Unit arrested a 53-year-old man at a residence in Merced after he arrived at the location to engage in sex acts with a juvenile. He was booked at the Merced County Main Jail for 288.3(a) PC.  He was released after posting a $5000 bond.
• On March 13th, 2017, officers of the DART Unit arrested a 54-year-old man at a residence in Merced after he arrived to engage in sex acts with a juvenile. He was booked at the Merced County Main Jail for 288.3(a) PC.
• On March 15th, 2017, officers of the DART Unit arrested a 61-year-old man near Golden Valley High School after he arranged to have a juvenile ditch school and leave with him to engage in sex acts. He was booked at the Merced County Main Jail for 288.3(a) PC and was sentenced to 120 days in jail.
• On March 21st, 2017, officers of the DART Unit arrested a 28-year-old man at a residence in Merced after he arrived to meet a juvenile for sex acts and for sending pornographic material to a minor. He was booked at the Merced County Main Jail for 288.3(a) PC and 288.2(a)(2) PC.
• On March 22nd, 2017, officers of the DART Unit arrested a 50-year-old man at his residence for sending harmful material to a minor. He was booked at the Merced County Main Jail for 288.2(a) (2) PC.
• On March 22nd, 2017, officers of the DART Unit arrested a 56-year-old man at a residence in Merced after he arrived to perform sex acts with a juvenile. He was booked in the Merced County Main Jail for 288.3(a) PC. He was released after posting a $5000 bond.

In January 2018, a web-based reverse sting was conducted by the Merced Police Department and collaborating agencies as part of a 3-day-long sex trafficking operation. For the first two days, officers contacted online prostitution advertisements. They arranged to purchase sex to determine if the individuals depicted in the online ads were victims of sex trafficking. In total, six women appeared at agreed-upon locations and were interviewed by officers. Each was provided counseling and other services in an attempt to offer support to leave the commercial sex industry. During those interviews, it was determined that two men were “pimping, pandering, and supervising prostitutes.” They were detained, and both were arrested and booked for the charges. During the last day of the operation, officers focused on arresting individuals who engaged in purchasing commercial sex with adults through online advertisements. The Merced Police Department DART Team, with the assistance of the MPD GVSU (Gang Violence Suppression Unit) and the Fresno Office of the FBI, posted decoy ads online and arrested seven men when they arrived at the agreed-upon location. The identities of the male sex buyers were released to the public, and all were given citations for the violations and released. In February 2022, a sex trafficking operation by the Merced Police Department’s Disruptive Area Response Team resulted in eight arrests, including four male sex buyers who were arrested for “soliciting a prostitute.”  Their identities were disclosed in news reports.

Loss of employment is another consequence of sex buying in the city. For example, in 2012, a 58-year-old former school bus driver was arrested and charged with one count of felony attempted unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. According to reports, the man had allegedly solicited sex from a 17-year-old high school student, who he claimed was 23 years old. The teenager told police that she had received money in exchange for sex from the offender. Since the sex buyer had no prior convictions, and the sex buyer’s charge was reduced solicitation of prostitution – a misdemeanor offense. He pled no contest to the solicitation of a prostitute. He was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to stay away from the victim, according to Deputy District Attorney Monika Saini, the prosecutor in the case. The case was initiated after an officer saw a tan four-door Ford parked in an alley and two individuals in the back seat. According to reports, the officer was assigned to the local high school and recognized the teenage girl upon approaching the vehicle. The teenager was arrested on suspicion of prostitution. The teenage girl was carrying $1,500 in her wallet at the time of her arrest, which she told police she had received from engaging in commercial sex. The bus driver was immediately fired from the First Student School Bus Transportation Services; a private company contracted with the Merced County Office of Education. His identity was included in reports from local media outlets.

Local law enforcement responded to the 2022 National Assessment Survey and reported that the city had conducted public education targeting the demand for commercial sex about four times per year. The respondent also said that the Merced police have used males as decoy prostituted persons and arrested female sex buyers in more than one operation.