2 arrested suspected of running sex scam in Orange County
DANA POINT, Calif. -- Two people have been arrested of running a sex scam where they would lure victims to hotel rooms and then rob them.
Authorities believe Christopher Herrera, 27, of Bell Gardens, and Sandy Cacero, 24, of La Palma, along with other women, may be responsible for additional robberies.
On Wednesday, Herrera and Cacero allegedly assaulted and pepper sprayed a victim they contacted on Backpage.com, which advertises escort services, at a Best Western Hotel in the 24200 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point.
They then stole the victim's cash, phone and tablet before fleeing in a white 2013 Nissan Maxima with the license plate 6XCC446.
Orange County sheriff's deputies arrested Cacero and Herrera the same day.
"The women get there, then the male suspect shows up and robs the victim," Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Santa Ana police have also linked the pair to an attempted robbery at a DoubleTree Hotel in the 200 block of East MacArthur Boulevard in Santa Ana.
Investigators believe Herrera followed the victim into his room and demanded money. When the victim refused, Herrera assaulted him. He fled the scene with two unidentified women.
Herrera was booked into Orange County Jail and was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail. Cacero was arrested, but released on Thursday after posting bail.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Santa Ana Police Department Det. Cpl. Adrian Silva at (714) 245-8545 or (714) 834-4211 or the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000.
