A months-long investigation into human trafficking led to the arrest of an Oakland man accused of pimping and pandering in Stanislaus County, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office reported. 

Devonte Hinkston, 33, was taken into custody Oct. 8 by detectives with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation and Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Taskforce. He was booked on two counts of pimping and two counts of pandering and is being held at the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on $300,000 bail.

The investigation began in May when a confidential victim reported an assault and theft to deputies in the unincorporated area of Turlock. During the course of that investigation, the victim disclosed she was being sexually trafficked, officials said.

Detectives later identified multiple additional victims who were allegedly involved in commercial sex trafficking facilitated by Hinkston.

Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to contact the H.E.A.T. Taskforce at (209) 525-7114 or submit an anonymous tip to Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at (866) 602-7463.