A man who trafficked two minors across the state of California was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Kai Jones was sentenced on Friday for sexual exploitation and human trafficking charges, the California Department of Justice announced.
Jones operated out of Los Angeles, Alameda, Monterey, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties. Between June 1 and Oct. 10, 2022, he trafficked two minor victims and financially benefited from their sexual exploitation, prosecutors said.
He would lure the underage victims with promises of protection and a bright future in exchange for the money they received from performing sex acts.
Following an investigation, Jones was charged with seven felonies, including the human trafficking of a minor, pimping of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
He was also charged with one count of pandering after trying to persuade an undercover officer he was communicating with on social media to become a prostitute.
The charges were announced while he was in custody for attempted murder in an unrelated case.
On Feb. 13, 2026, he pleaded guilty to the trafficking charges and on March 27, he was sentenced to eight years in prison.
“This sentence proves that combating the trafficking and exploitation of children remains an utmost priority for my team and me at the California Department of Justice,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Crimes against children will never be tolerated in California, and I remain dedicated to prosecuting perpetrators of child exploitation. I am grateful for the hard work of my team — both in the field and in the courtroom — that made securing an eight-year prison sentence for the perpetrator in this case possible.”
This case was investigated by the DOJ’s Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Team. Since 2021, the team has arrested 1,035 traffickers and helped 1,062 survivors.
“Human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals for sex or labor through force, fraud, or coercion,” the department said. “Traffickers often target people who are already vulnerable due to circumstances such as poverty, housing instability, or other risk factors.”
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