For Immediate Release

Sergeant Anthony Prencipe

On December 27^th I sent a letter to California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra requesting he stay the requirement for ammunition vendors to obtain an ammunition vendor license pursuant to Proposition 63 passed by the voters in November of 2016 due to the fact his own office had not completed the regulatory process nor issued any of the required ammunition vendor licenses so these businesses could lawfully operate until such licenses were issued.

The letter was also posted as a press release which was picked up by some local media outlets that investigated and reported the facts.  When they contacted the Department of Justice, as reported, they were informed that approximately 225 ammunition vendor license applications had been received and 219 had been processed with only six more to process and that the businesses would receive their licenses prior to the end of the year.

On December 28 I received an email with an attached letter, both from Robert D. Wilson, Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice.  The letter stated the following:

Your letter to Attorney General Becerra regarding ammunition vendor licenses has been directed to the Bureau of Firearms (Bureau) for response.  To summarize, you voiced concerns about the timely issuance of ammunition vendor licenses.  The Bureau has been working with non-FFL ammunition vendors since early 2017 and that work has paid off.  Initial estimates indicated that there were approximately 225 non-FFL ammunition vendors in California.  As of today, the Bureau processed 227 applications for ammunition vendor licenses; five additional applications are now in the final stage of completion.  All backgrounds and Certificates of Eligibility have been completed or are nearing completion.  The Bureau expects to issue these licenses electronically on December 29, 2017.

Sincerely,

Robert D. Wilson

Deputy Attorney General

For Xavier Becerra

Attorney General

On December 29, at approximately 4:35 pm I received an email from Chris Puehse, owner of Foothill Ammunition, an ammunition vendor in El Dorado County.  The email was a forward from the California Department of Justice stating the following:

Ammunition regulations from the California Department of Justice are in the final stage of approval, which is expected in early January.  The Department has processed applications from vendors and will issue licenses once the regulations are approved.

I immediately telephoned Deputy Attorney General, Robert Wilson to inquire about the discrepancy between what was told to the media, what was told to me and what is now being told to the ammunition vendors who are just trying to comply with the law.  I was advised by DAG Wilson that there was a misunderstanding and that the regulations had not been reviewed and approved by the Department’s “Office of Administrative Law” (OAL) and no licenses had been issued.  He advised he would be personally walking the regulations through with the OAL first thing Tuesday, January 2, 2018 hoping that the regulations would be approved and the licenses could be issued shortly after that.

When asked what businesses that sold ammunition were supposed to do until then, I was advised they would have to only “shut their doors” for a few days until the licenses were issued giving no definitive date DOJ is willing to be accountable to.  I advised him this was unacceptable and again requested Attorney General Becerra issue a stay until such regulations were completed and licenses issued.

I am releasing this information via press release because it needs to be documented that the California Department of Justice had been less than honest with the people of California regarding this issue, has had since November of 2016 to draft and finalize the regulations for this law and have failed to do so in a timely manner and even though a remedy exists, will again fail the people of California and force law abiding citizens to choose between being criminals or not providing for their families.  Affecting livelihoods with a flippant “trust us” attitude is unacceptable from public servants.

John D’Agostini

El Dorado County

Sheriff~ Coroner~ Public Administer”

For Immediate Release

Sergeant Anthony Prencipe

The following letter was sent by Sheriff D’Agostini to Attorney General Becerra today.

“Last November, 2016, Proposition 63 was passed by the voters of California. Part of the new law requires that ammunition vendors obtain an Ammunition Vendor License from your office by January 1st of 2018 in order to be able to continue to sell ammunition. 

It has come to my attention from an ammunition vendor in my county that as of January 1st, 2018, he will no longer be able to receive ammunition shipments from his ammunition suppliers because he does not have an Ammunition Vendor License. He has been in contact with your Bureau of Firearms and has submitted all his applications and fees.

Unfortunately, he has been told by your Bureau of Firearms, as recently as yesterday, December 26th, 2017, that his Ammunition Vendor License has not been issued and there is no expected time when such license will be issued. Due to your offices inability to comply with this regulatory scheme, his business and his livelihood are at great risk.

I am requesting that you stay the enforcement of this law immediately and keep such stay in place until such a time that your staff can comply with the regulatory scheme set up in the law and then provide enough time for businesses to become compliant with such a scheme.

I would also request, through a media release for expediency, that you advice all such businesses in the state and also all ammunition suppliers of such stay so all can remain in business.

With Urgency,

John D’Agostini

El Dorado County

Sheriff~ Coroner~ Public Administer”

For Immediate Release

Sergeant Anthony Prencipe

El Dorado County Detectives began an investigation into prostitution and human trafficking in El Dorado County by searching escort/ dating sites on the internet.  Numerous escort/ dating ads were located on the sites for El Dorado County in the areas of El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park and Placerville.

Thursday night, The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, with the assistance of the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI began preparing an investigative operation into these dating sites.  The main purpose of the investigation was to identify the human trafficking victims who are being prostituted and to identify the suspects who are pimping and trafficking these victims in El Dorado County. The operation was “Victim Centered”, identifying the traffickers, focusing on the Pimp not the Prostitute. The operation focused on younger looking prostitutes on the internet who are working in El Dorado County. By targeting younger looking prostitutes, the goal was to rescue minor victims who are being trafficked. Once victims of human trafficking were identified and contacted, appropriate enforcement action was taken. In addition, the victim met with advocates who assisted them in receiving appropriate services.

During the last date of the operation, a 17 year old victim was identified, rescued from human trafficking, and was turned over to Victim advocates from the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI and El Dorado County Child Protective Services. The investigation into this victim is ongoing.  A total of 25 Detectives, Investigators and victim witness advocates participated in the operation.

During the operation, a total of 14 people were arrested or cited for various violations.  four people were arrested for violations to include two for prostitution, two for felony no bail warrants and one for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.  9 suspects were cited for prostitution and one was cited for possession of methamphetamine.  The following people were arrested or cited:

Derika Bynoe 21yrs                         647b PC

Fitore Toshi    24yrs                         647b PC

Cailyn Boyle   25 yrs                       647b PC and an outstanding DUI Warrant

Brehonna VanBooven 20 yrs        647b PC

Romula Perez 30 yrs                       647b PC

Destiny Wincentsen 20 yrs                        647b PC

Norma Waters 30 yrs                       647b PC

Crissy Phillips 41 yrs                       647b PC

Jeriann Carter 26 yrs                       647b PC

Lena Salas 36 yrs                            647b PC

Robbie Mc Dermott 27 yrs              2 Felony “No Bail” warrants

Daniel Ocenar 37 yrs                      11377 H&S and 11364 H&S

Teonna Haskins 24 yrs                   647b PC Arrest

Malik Green 22 yrs                           Felony “No Bail” warrant

This operation was successful and we are proud of the dedicated and hardworking individuals that participated.  The EL Dorado County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work closely with the District Attorney’s Office and the FBI on investigations to uncover, prosecute and help prevent Human Trafficking in El Dorado County.