Couple Arrested in Perris on Human Trafficking Charges

A Perris woman and her live-in boyfriend were arrested Thursday, March 5 and are accused of human trafficking involving the woman's 14-year-old daughter in locations including Murrieta, police said today.

Antwana Muhammad, 39 (left), and Charles Smith, 32 (below right), were arrested following an investigation by the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. Muhammad and Smith are accused of exploiting Muhammad's daughter through commercial sex acts. The crimes allegedly occurred in Murrieta, the San Fernando Valley and other locations in Southern California.

Task officers identified another of Muhammad's biological children, an adult female, as also being pimped by both Muhammad and Smith, police said. Smith allegedly placed online advertisements soliciting the victims for prostitution and Muhammad is accused of transporting the victims throughout the area to take place in those activities. Muhammad and Smith kept all the proceeds from those criminal activities.

Officers located Muhammad driving in the area of Ramona Expressway and Interstate 215 on March 5 and arrested her. Soon after, they served a search warrant on a residence in the 1400 block of Medallion Court in Perris and took Smith into custody as well. Evidence related to the investigation was seized.

Muhammad and Smith were booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on charges of human trafficking of a minor, pandering a minor and pimping. Additional charges of child endangerment will be sought, according to the news release. Bail for each has been set at $250,000. Child Protective Services was asked to take Muhammad’s children into protective custody.