Five St. Louis men arrested in Illinois human trafficking sting

COLUMBIA, Ill. — In a two-day operation targeting human trafficking, Illinois State Police arrested five suspects in Monroe County. The sting, conducted from July 31 to August 1, 2024, focused on identifying those seeking commercial sex acts.

All five suspects hail from the St. Louis area. Deepak Chiluveru, 24, Tuan M. Huynh, 34, Leslie M. Johnson, 56, Kawa M. Shaker, 26, and Roberto Rodriquez-Cordero, 36, face multiple criminal charges. These include indecent solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a child, grooming, and solicitation to meet a child.

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Huynh and Rodriquez-Cordero face additional charges of armed violence. Rodriquez-Cordero is also charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

The operation was part of a broader effort to combat human trafficking in Illinois. It involved collaboration between various law enforcement agencies. If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. More information: www.humantraffickinghotline.org.

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