A traffic stop on I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish on Wednesday led to a human trafficking arrest.
According to a release from Louisiana State Police, Troopers in Troop A stopped an eastbound vehicle on I-10 near Port Allen shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday for a traffic violation. The traffic stop and the investigation that ensued led to the arrest of 44-year-old Ruben Guadarrama Delgado of Shafter, CA.
Troopers became suspicious of criminal activity consistent with human trafficking after speaking with Delgado's 22-year-old female passenger. Investigators from the LSP Special Victims Unit were called to further the investigation. They learned the passenger was coerced into traveling with Delgado for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex trafficking.
Delgado was arrested and booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail on charges of Human Trafficking, False Imprisonment, and Improper Lane Usage.
The investigation remains ongoing.
January is recognized nationally as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Louisiana State Police remains dedicated to rescuing and obtaining justice for the victims of crimes involving the exploitation of children and the trafficking of humans for sex or labor. The public plays an important role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes, and is urged to report criminal or suspicious activity. The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is available to the public through an anonymous reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators. The form can be found by visiting http://la-safe.org and clicking on the "Suspicious Activity" link.
