SAN FRANCISCO—On Wednesday, June 24, the San Francisco Police Department announced several suspects were arrested during a sex-trafficking crackdown during the current World Cup.
The SFPD’s Special Victims Unit has made multiple arrests, including for trafficking a minor, and seized illegal firearms during recent operations focused on cracking down on sex trafficking, as the Bay Area hosts games for the FIFA World Cup.
The Police Department closely with regional, state, and federal law enforcement partners on the operations, as continue to work with community partners to provide resources to sex trafficking victims.
Major events like the World Cup and the Super Bowl bring large crowds, business, and increased economic activity to the region, they attract human trafficking.
On June 12, SFPD officers working with the Santa Clara Human Trafficking Task Force identified a suspect who posted on a commercial sex website. The suspect arranged to meet with a decoy for prostitution at a hotel in San Francisco.
SFPD Special Victims Unit, working with BART Police, the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI, conducted the decoy operation.
When the suspect arrived and was met by officers, he attempted to flee on foot while discarding a jacket. Officers took the suspect into custody and recovered a firearm inside the jacket with a loaded high-capacity magazine, another loaded magazine, and a knife. Officers found another firearm inside the suspect’s vehicle along with seven additional high-capacity magazines, additional magazines, and ammunition.
The suspect was identified as Tyler Marchok, 25, of San Francisco. He was booked in San Francisco County Jail on charges including carrying a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine, and resisting arrest.
On June 18, officers from the Special Victims Unit executed a search warrant at a home suspected of operating as a brothel on the 900 block of Bryant Street. Officers searched the residence and located two male suspects engaged in sexual activity with other individuals. Officers collected evidence indicating sex work was occurring inside the residence. Both male suspects were detained and cited for soliciting for prostitution offenses.
A third suspect, Hong Yu, 64, was booked into San Francisco County Jail for operating a residential brothel. Officers connected the victims with social services and released them from the scene.
On June 20, SFPD officers spotted a vehicle speeding and driving recklessly in the area of Turk and Mason Streets. Officers stopped the vehicle and detained the occupants.
A young woman in the back seat was reluctant to speak to officers in front of the male suspect driver. When the victim was separated from the suspect, she told officers that she was a minor and had been participating in sex work.
The victim told officers that the suspect picked her up in Oakland and driven her to multiple places in San Francisco. While in the car, the victim said she told the suspect she wanted to go home, but he did not take her home. The victim’s phone contained messages between her and the suspect, which indicated that he was recruiting her to work as a sex worker for him.
Officers booked the suspect, identified as Otis Broughton, 28, in San Francisco County Jail for charges including human trafficking involving a minor by force and pandering.
“Human trafficking of any kind will never be tolerated in San Francisco,” said Police Chief Derrick Lew. “Our officers will be out in force cracking down on sex trafficking during the World Cup and after. I want to thank all of our officers along with members of our Special Victims Unit for their diligent work on these investigations.”
If the public suspect’s someone is being trafficked, they should report it. Some of the signs of human trafficking include when someone is being controlled, threatened or is unable to speak for themself.
Members of the public are asked to call the 24/7 San Francisco Bay Area Human Trafficking Hotline at 415-907-9911. In an emergency always call 911.
