News
Released: February 6, 2026 - Friday, 03:32 PM
In January 2026, The San Luis Obispo County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force participated in Operation Reclaim and Rebuild in order to combat human trafficking within our area.
This operation was a coordinated effort throughout the state and multiple agencies within San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County participated. This includes investigators from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office – Special Operations Unit, Special Victim’s Unit, and Major Crimes Unit; DeliverFund; California Highway Patrol – Investigative Services Unit; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Santa Maria Field Office; Santa Maria Police Department; San Luis Obispo County Probation Department; Grover Beach Police Department; San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Bureau of Investigations along with their 3CFL unit; and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney – Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.
Over the course of Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, investigators were able to make a total of 6 arrests and rescued 3 female sex trafficking victims in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Two of the females were adults and one female was a juvenile under the age of 18.
The following individuals were arrested with the respective charges over the course of the investigation.
· ESTEBAN CEJA (DOB: 03/03/1995), San Diego
PC 236.1(B) Human Trafficking
PC 266H(A) Pimping
PC 266H(A) Pimping
PC 266I(A)(1) Procures another person/prostitution
PC 266I(A)(1) Procures another person/prostitution
PC 148.9(A) False Representation to a Peace Officer
· GAEL PITAABARCA (DOB: 03/24/2007), Paso Robles
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes
· STEPHAN MUELLER (DOB: 12/01/1963), Los Osos
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes
PC 288.3(A) Contact with Minor for Sexual Offense
· SINGH ASHVIR (DOB:10/03/2003), San Luis Obispo
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes
· GONZALO LUNA-PENAFORT (DOB: 08/18/2003), Santa Maria
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes (Santa Barbara County)
· ARTURO DELEON (DOB:03/30/1986), Santa Maria
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes (Santa Barbara County)
Due to the coordinated efforts of all Law Enforcement agencies involved, Operation Reclaim and Rebuild was a success within our county and allowed us to rescue multiple victims of human trafficking.
Operation Reclaim and Rebuild
Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: 805-781-4547Date and time of incident: January 2026Place of Occurrence: San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara CountyVictim Information: N/ASuspect Information: N/AIn January 2026, The San Luis Obispo County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force participated in Operation Reclaim and Rebuild in order to combat human trafficking within our area.
This operation was a coordinated effort throughout the state and multiple agencies within San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County participated. This includes investigators from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office – Special Operations Unit, Special Victim’s Unit, and Major Crimes Unit; DeliverFund; California Highway Patrol – Investigative Services Unit; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Santa Maria Field Office; Santa Maria Police Department; San Luis Obispo County Probation Department; Grover Beach Police Department; San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Bureau of Investigations along with their 3CFL unit; and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney – Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.
Over the course of Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, investigators were able to make a total of 6 arrests and rescued 3 female sex trafficking victims in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Two of the females were adults and one female was a juvenile under the age of 18.
The following individuals were arrested with the respective charges over the course of the investigation.
· ESTEBAN CEJA (DOB: 03/03/1995), San Diego
PC 236.1(B) Human Trafficking
PC 266H(A) Pimping
PC 266H(A) Pimping
PC 266I(A)(1) Procures another person/prostitution
PC 266I(A)(1) Procures another person/prostitution
PC 148.9(A) False Representation to a Peace Officer
· GAEL PITAABARCA (DOB: 03/24/2007), Paso Robles
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes
· STEPHAN MUELLER (DOB: 12/01/1963), Los Osos
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes
PC 288.3(A) Contact with Minor for Sexual Offense
· SINGH ASHVIR (DOB:10/03/2003), San Luis Obispo
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes
· GONZALO LUNA-PENAFORT (DOB: 08/18/2003), Santa Maria
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes (Santa Barbara County)
· ARTURO DELEON (DOB:03/30/1986), Santa Maria
PC 288.4(B) Meeting with a Minor for Lewd Purposes (Santa Barbara County)
Due to the coordinated efforts of all Law Enforcement agencies involved, Operation Reclaim and Rebuild was a success within our county and allowed us to rescue multiple victims of human trafficking.
