4 charged in east metro underage sex trafficking sting

Four men face criminal charges after they were arrested this week in an underage sex trafficking sting in Oakdale.

Court records show the East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force, based in Washington County, conducted an undercover operation “to combat the demand-side” of those willing to solicit sex from minors.

Officers posted advertisements to websites or social media using “decoy” pictures of an adult woman who could pass for underage. Once people contacted the phone number listed in the ad, undercover officers posed as 15-year-old or 17-year-old girls and set up meetings — all at a park in Oakdale, with officers lying in wait.

All four suspects were arrested after they confirmed over text they wanted to pay for sex acts with a minor and arrived at the rendezvous point. In three cases, the undercover officer posed as a 17-year-old, while in the other they said they were 15.

The following suspects each face one count of felony solicitation of a minor:

• Diatee Dualuqua, 20, of New Hope.
• Jaime Amador Gonzalez, 40, of Richfield.
• Maltiano Johnson, 42, of St. Louis.
• Ronald Clifford Simpson Jr., 37, of Smyrna, Tennessee.

All four had their first appearances with Judge Helen Brosnahan via video conference on Thursday morning. So far, only Gonzalez has yet to be released from the Washington County Jail on bond.