The Alameda Police Department (APD) and several other Alameda County law enforcement agencies conducted a prostitution sting that led to 11 arrests in Alameda last Thursday, April 28.

The officers used websites, such as Backpage.com, to engage with prostitute handlers. They lured them to a hotel thinking they were conducting a business transaction. 

“We had one officer pose as an undercover John,” said APD Lt. Hoshmand Durani. “Once money was handed over to the handlers we went in to make arrests.”

Those arrested on prostitution charges were Eryanna Branner (female, 21); Ivan Flores Alvarado, 37; Kianna Nollman, 19; Randall Stovall Jr., 21; Encarnacion Velasqueztecum (male, 37); Breann Brown, 22; Calvin Lueng, 43; Deahjinae Benford, 24; Yan Su, (female, 44); and Yunsong Xiao, (male, 25). 

Eric Ralferer, (male, 23), was arrested for providing police officers false information while trying to aid a prostitute. He was not arrested on a prostitution charge. Brown was given a citation for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana along with a prostitution charge. Durani said those arrested were, separate entities, not a part of one big organization and none of the suspects were from Alameda. 

Durani said there were no physical confrontations with any suspects. One suspect, however, managed to elude police, but officers retrieved his cell phone and are searching for him.

The operation took place at the Roadway Inn at 1925 Webster St. Durani said the Roadway Inn has no connection with the suspects in the case.

“The hotel is in no way affiliated with the criminals,” said Durani. “We just used a room in their hotel as a meeting place to facilitate the operation. They were very cooperative.”

The APD’s vice enforcement team is a part of a Bay Area task force that holds monthly/quarterly sting operations that investigates different crimes including prostitution. The Roadway Inn operation comprised of 30 officers from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Hayward Police Department, Piedmont Police Department, Livermore Police Department, the FBI and the Alameda County Probation Department. 

The suspects were charged and released. They were given a court date within 60 days.