(Sept. 30, 2026) – It’s been one year since the Aurora Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit was established and already it has proved itself to be a force multiplier in the agency’s mission to reduce victimization and stop exploitative behavior.
In its first 12 months of operations, the Human Trafficking Unit launched 53 investigations, arrested 28 suspects and recovered 29 survivors of human trafficking activity, 15 of which were minors. The Human Trafficking Unit has recently grown to three detectives with a supervising sergeant.
“When we set out to create a dedicated human trafficking unit, our mission was clear: put survivors at the center of our investigations while taking a targeted approach to identifying and holding traffickers accountable,” said Investigations Bureau Cmdr. Marc Paolino. “In its first year, this small, highly focused team has made a significant impact, particularly in protecting vulnerable victims and disrupting the sexual exploitation of minors.
“The work they’ve done has made our community safer and sent a clear message that the Aurora Police Department will aggressively pursue anyone who exploits others for this type of heinous, criminal activity.”
Among the 28 suspects arrested is Marshae Wheelock, 24, of Aurora, who is tied to numerous human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases over several years involving multiple child victims. Wheelock currently has three active court cases in Arapahoe and Adams district courts.
In Arapahoe District Court, Wheelock is charged with trafficking a minor for sexual servitude, pimping a child, pimping, pandering prostitution and engaging in human trafficking for sexual servitude. Wheelock recently accepted a plea deal with the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and is scheduled to appear Nov. 6 in court for sentencing where he faces eight to 16 years in prison.
Wheelock has two active cases in Adams District Court. In one, he faces similar charges of trafficking a minor for sexual servitude, pimping a child and pimping. Wheelock also has agreed to a plea deal with the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. He is scheduled to appear Nov. 10 in court for sentencing where he faces 10 years in prison.
Wheelock is charged with victim intimidation in his second Adams District Court case; crimes investigators determined he orchestrated from jail. Wheelock also accepted a plea deal in this case and faces two to six years in prison.
“Marshae Wheelock represents the type of offender the Human Trafficking Unit was created to investigate; someone who repeatedly preys on vulnerable children,” said Deputy Chief Mark Hildebrand, who oversees the Aurora Police Department Investigations Division. “I’m proud of the work our investigators did to identify this pattern of exploitation and build these cases to ensure he cannot victimize another child in our community.”
In another case, Human Trafficking Unit investigators engaged in February in an undercover operation involving a 16-year-old girl. Investigators recovered the teenager and later identified three suspects involved in the sexual exploitation of the 16-year-old for financial gain.
Investigators arrested Aja Abney, 20, of Centennial, Dasjuan Goode, 38, of Aurora, and Damara Hester, 32, of Denver. All three face charges in Adams District Court.
Abney, who is free on $30,000 bond, faces charges of trafficking a minor for sexual servitude, pandering a child and attempted pimping of a child.
Goode, who is in custody on $75,000 bond, faces charges of trafficking a minor for sexual servitude and pimping a child.
Hester, who is free on $20,000 bond, faces charges of pimping.
All three cases are early in the court process.
The Aurora Police Department is one of a few agencies in Colorado to create a dedicated Human Trafficking Unit. Established in September 2025, the Human Trafficking Unit is partnered with the agency’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit to leverage already-established local, state and federal partnerships and investigative resources through the Colorado Cyber Guardian Task Force and the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking task forces.
The investigations are active and ongoing. Anyone with any information about the above suspects or other victims not yet known to law enforcement is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-234893 Marshae Wheelock
AP24-209312
AP26-69931
AP26-45036 Aja Abney
Dasjuan Goode
Damara Hester