HAMMOND- The Hammond Police Department Street Crimes Unit along with the Department of Homeland Security BEST/HIDTA rescued two females victims and arrested two suspects for human trafficking.

The two entities began an investigation of a possible human trafficking organization operating in the Hammond area in late February.

Officers identified the two female victims being advertised through a web site.

HPD SCU, DHS BEST/HIDTA Agents and Task Force Officers rescued the two female victims at a local motel in Hammond.

One suspect was arrested outside the motel. A second suspect was arrested in the motel room after she negotiated and agreed to sexual acts for the juvenile and adult victims.

Marijuana was also seized from the victims.

The victims identified the location where the suspects held them and officers executed a search warrant.

They also executed a search warrant for a home in Fluker, resulting in the seizure of more marijuana and other items related to human trafficking.

Both suspects, 37- year old, Romalas Dixon of Fluker, and 30-year-old Emily Perry of Sumerdale, AL, were booked into Tangipahoa Parish Jail.

 Dixon admitted that he served as a pimp for the two victims and knowingly had them perform commercial sex acts for profit. He identified a similar operation in the Metro New Orleans area.

This information was relayed to the appropriate law enforcement in that area resulting in another minor juvenile victim being rescued.  HSI New Orleans Victim Assistance Specialist arranged for the victims to be taken to a local teen shelter in Covington.