Human Trafficking Suspect Arrested and Charged for Multiple Crimes

A human trafficking investigation has led to the rescue of an infant child, a 17-year-old female victim, and the arrest of a male adult suspect.

On July 28, 2021, at approximately 8:17 p.m., Long Beach Police Department officers responded to a dispute call in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Hill Street. Upon arrival, Long Beach Police Officers spoke to a female minor who they believed was a victim of human trafficking. Later, officers determined the suspect had taken the minor’s infant child without her consent and demanded a ransom.

Our Night Vice Investigation Unit responded to the scene to speak with the victim and take over the investigation. Due to the great work of officers, detectives, and dispatchers, the infant child was safely reunited with the mother that same evening.

During the course of the investigation it was determined the suspect had trafficked the 17-year-old female minor and assaulted her.

The suspect was identified as Antonio Lettmen, a 23-year-old resident of the City of Los Angeles.

On July 30, 2021, a warrant was issued for Lettmen’s arrest for the human trafficking of a minor with violence. Long Beach Police Department detectives from the Special Investigations Division and officers from the Coordinated Response Team located and arrested Lettmen in a vehicle near his residence in the City of Los Angeles without incident.

A search warrant was executed on the vehicle Lettmen was in at the time of this arrest and his residence in the City of Los Angeles. During the execution of the search warrants, officers located a semi-automatic firearm and additional evidence pertaining to the human trafficking of the 17-year-old minor.

On August 3, 2021, Lettmen was charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for commercially sex trafficking a minor with violence, kidnapping for ransom, and ex-felon in possession of a firearm. Lettmen is being held on a 2,035,000 bail.