A California Uber driver eavesdropped on a conversation between 2 female passengers and discovered they were pimps running a sex trafficking ring. Uber driver Keith Avila is being hailed as a hero for helping police bust up the ring and rescue a 16-year-old girl.
In Elk Grove, Calif., Avila picked up 3 passengers — a teenager and 2 adult women. After eavesdropping on their conversations, Avila realized they weren’t friends — the women were pimps and the girl was a prostitute.
“They started like talking, like saying everything that was going on. Like what they’re doing, child sex trafficking,” Avila told ABC13. He said he couldn’t ignore what was happening. Walking away “wasn’t even an option.”
Avila said he overheard the women advising the teenager to “hug” her johns to “make sure they don’t have no weapons.” The women also told the girl to “get the donations first,” before any sexual acts, according to ABC13.
Avila dropped the women off at a Elk Grove Holiday Inn, where the teen was to meet up with a john.
Avial said he called the police who quickly arrived at the location.
“They do not play. Not when you’re doing child sex trafficking,” he told ABC13.
Police arrested Destiny Pettway and Maria Westly on various charges of pimping and pandering. A man identified as “Disney Vang” was arrested for having sex with a minor.
“He could’ve said nothing. Went on his way, collected his fare,” said Elk Grove police officer Chris Trim. “And then that 16-year-old victim could’ve been victimized again by who knows how many different people over the next couple of days, weeks, months.”
