Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)
SAN DIEGO – Steven Terrell Lewis of El Cajon was convicted by a federal jury of attempted coercion and enticement of a 14-year-old high school student and attempted sex trafficking by force or coercion of a 22-year-old woman.
According to evidence presented at trial, on April 22, 2024, as the 14-year-old victim was walking to a friend’s house after school around 3 p.m. in El Cajon, Lewis used his vehicle to pin her on the sidewalk, exited his vehicle and snatched her cellphone from her hand to get her cellphone number. Lewis then proceeded to send sexually explicit text messages (from a phone number ending in 8155) to the victim before she was able to block his phone number. The next day, on April 23, 2024, Lewis continued texting the victim, except this time from a different phone number through TextFree, a mobile application and web service (from a phone number ending in 0014).
When Lewis identified himself as “Pimpin,” sent a sexually explicit photograph and invited the victim to “go get some money” with him, the minor victim immediately notified a coach at her high school. The El Cajon Police Department and San Diego Sheriff’s Office responded.
After Lewis’s attempt to sex traffic the minor victim failed, one week later, on April 28, 2024, he began recruiting the 22-year-old victim through MegaPersonals and sent a ride-share vehicle to take her to Roosevelt Avenue in National City, known as “the blade,” to work street-based prostitution for his financial benefit. Fortunately, on April 29, 2024, the adult victim was picked up by an undercover National City police office posing as a commercial sex buyer and was offered resources to leave prostitution. However, Lewis continued to message the adult victim (from both phone numbers ending in 8155 and 0014), threatening her to continue to engage in commercial sex for his benefit, to include:
Officers from the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force conducted physical surveillance of Lewis, a search of his vehicles, residence and cell phones, and ultimately arrested him on May 16, 2024. The victims did not know each other. Investigators believe that other potential victims exist because they discovered a photograph of a handwritten note during a search of Lewis’s phone that appears to have been written by a concerned parent to Lewis. The note reads, “If I find out one more time that this car is following my daughter down Graves Ave we will have a problem. I suggest you f—- chill.”
At the time, Lewis was driving two vehicles that were registered to him, including a white, four-door 1996 Oldsmobile bearing California license plate number 3TIF671:
And a brown or beige colored, four-door 1986 Chevrolet bearing California licenses plate number 1REC517:
If you believe you or someone you know has had an encounter with Lewis or you know the author of the note, investigators ask that you contact the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.
“The jury’s guilty verdicts are a powerful reminder that human trafficking has no place in our society. These verdicts are not just justice for the victims – it is a warning to human traffickers everywhere that those who exploit and attempt to exploit others for profit will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of law, no matter how long it takes,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “I commend the bravery of the survivors who came forward. Their truth helped convict a predator – and protect countless others.”
“This guilty verdict sends the powerful message that those who exploit children will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego. “This outcome is the result of relentless cooperation among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Our agency remains steadfast in our mission to bring perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice and to stand beside every victim until justice is served.”
“Every year, there are thousands of reported human trafficking cases across the United States — including right here in California,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Whether it’s for sex or labor, abusing power to force or coerce someone into doing something against their will is wrong. At the California Department of Justice, we’re committed to standing up for survivors, disrupting and dismantling human trafficking rings, and securing justice. I am thankful for our federal, state and local partners because it takes all of us to combat human trafficking. If you or someone you know has been affected by human trafficking, there are resources available to you. You are not alone.”
“As a member of the Human Trafficking Task Force the protection of our youth is our top priority,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl. “This case highlights the importance of collaboration and the need to share information in order to bring suspects like this into custody.”
Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on August 1, 2025.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndzie M. Carter and Derek Ko.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr1349-JES
Steven Terrell Lewis Age: 39 El Cajon, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Attempted Coercion/Enticement of a Minor – 18 U.S.C., Section 2422(b)
Maximum penalty: Ten-year mandatory minimum up to life
Attempted Sex Trafficking by Force/Coercion, 18 U.S.C., Section 1591(a)
Maximum penalty: Fifteen-year mandatory minimum up to life
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force
Homeland Security Investigations
National City Police Department
El Cajon Police Department
San Diego Sheriff’s Office
San Diego District Attorney’s Office