Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Trafficking Minors from LA to Vallejo
A California man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for human trafficking three underage girls, aged 13, 15, and 17, whom he lured away from home in Los Angeles before transporting them to the Bay Area. The victims were subjected to forced prostitution and sexual abuse under the control of Tobias Scolley, who was arrested on an assault charge last year.
Prosecutors claim that Scolley used his power over vulnerable teenagers to exploit their trust and subject them to severe trauma. During his time in prison, he continued to harass one of the victims by sending her explicit messages and forcing her to perform naked for him via video chat.
According to court records, three separate groups of human traffickers were identified during a joint investigation involving federal authorities and Homeland Security Investigations. Scolley's defense team argued that mitigating factors, including his troubled upbringing and long history of mental health issues, contributed to his actions.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers handed down the sentence on October 8, stating that Scolley had taken advantage of the girls' vulnerability and subjected them to "mortal danger" in pursuit of personal gain. The case highlights the ongoing issue of child sex trafficking in California, with authorities identifying multiple groups involved during the investigation.
A California man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for human trafficking three underage girls, aged 13, 15, and 17, whom he lured away from home in Los Angeles before transporting them to the Bay Area. The victims were subjected to forced prostitution and sexual abuse under the control of Tobias Scolley, who was arrested on an assault charge last year.
Prosecutors claim that Scolley used his power over vulnerable teenagers to exploit their trust and subject them to severe trauma. During his time in prison, he continued to harass one of the victims by sending her explicit messages and forcing her to perform naked for him via video chat.
According to court records, three separate groups of human traffickers were identified during a joint investigation involving federal authorities and Homeland Security Investigations. Scolley's defense team argued that mitigating factors, including his troubled upbringing and long history of mental health issues, contributed to his actions.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers handed down the sentence on October 8, stating that Scolley had taken advantage of the girls' vulnerability and subjected them to "mortal danger" in pursuit of personal gain. The case highlights the ongoing issue of child sex trafficking in California, with authorities identifying multiple groups involved during the investigation.
. and to think those poor girls were lured away from their homes in LA just so he could exploit them... it's like, how does someone do that to innocent kids? 
the fact that he continued to harass one of them after being locked up is just gut-wrenching. I mean, I know he had some kinda issues in his life but that's no excuse for what he did. 14 yrs might seem like a lot but it's not enough for someone who's taken advantage of those girls for life... 
. It makes me wonder, how do we break the cycle of exploitation and trauma for people like Tobias Scolley? Was it something in his childhood or upbringing that led him down this path? And what does that say about our society when we're not providing enough support systems for vulnerable kids to thrive?
. It's not just about the individuals involved, but also about how our societal norms and expectations can sometimes lead to the objectification of certain groups of people. Can we really say that we're doing enough to prevent child sex trafficking and support survivors? This case definitely raises more questions than answers 
. And the fact that he continued to harass one of the victims while he was in prison is just heartbreaking 
.
. We need to make sure that justice is served, but also provide them with the resources they need to heal and move forward. The fact that there were multiple groups involved in this case is a good reminder that it's a big problem that needs a collective effort to solve 
.
. Now, let's keep pushing for better laws and more support for victims of human trafficking 
.
... it's like, how do you even go from being a grown man with power and responsibility to being a monster in someone's eyes? 
. it's like, he took advantage of their trust and youth, and now they're left to deal with the trauma and scars that will take a lifetime to heal 
. i feel so bad for the one victim who was still being harassed in prison - that's just cruel and inhumane 
. anyway, this case is a total reminder of how we need to protect our young people from predators like him 
just think about this dude Tobias Scolley was so brazen even sent explicit messages to one of his victims while he's already locked up... what kinda sick game does that? 
this guy is literally a monster he preyed on these poor kids and traumatized them for his own sick desires, 14 years is a decent sentence but I hope it's not enough considering what those girls went through 
his twisted games with the victim still going on in prison is just another level of hell, authorities need to step up their game & keep these predators behind bars 