Oakland man gets nearly 19 years for pimping and pandering

"Court records show that during a traffic stop in late 2023, Pree was found to be in possession of evidence linking him to the solicitation and employment of women engaged in prostitution. On Aug. 16, 2024, he was arrested by Vacaville police officers in the 4700 block of Business Center Drive as he was attempting to recruit another prostitute to work for him, according to jail records and a press statement released Thursday by the Solano County District Attorney's Office."

"Following a Sept. 17 preliminary hearing, the DA's Office filed an amended complaint against Pree, a previously convicted felon. During a January trial - and after three weeks of testimony - jurors on Jan. 31 found Pree guilty of 10 felony counts of pimping and pandering. The jury also found to be true that he had been previously convicted of robbery."

"Vacaville Police detectives Megan King, Daniel Baxley, and Scott Lamphiear investigated the case. Deputy District Attorney Luke Leichty led the prosecution. Alternate Public Defender Sayuri Takagawa represented Pree, who remains in the Claybank Detention Facility in Fairfield, where he awaits transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Distrct Attorney Krishna Abrams urges anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault or human trafficking - or knows someone who has - and needs the help of an advocate, to call [phone]."

Eric Pree, 30, of Oakland was sentenced to nearly 19 years in state prison by Judge John B. Ellis. Court records show a late-2023 traffic stop yielded evidence linking Pree to solicitation and employment of women engaged in prostitution. Vacaville police arrested him on Aug. 16, 2024, as he attempted to recruit another prostitute. Investigators identified six women whom Pree victimized. The District Attorney filed charges on Aug. 20 and an amended complaint after a Sept. 17 preliminary hearing. A January trial produced convictions on 10 felony counts of pimping and pandering and a true finding of a prior robbery conviction. Pree awaits transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Read at The Mercury News