SF Police Bust Brothel During World Cup Sex Trafficking Enforcement Operation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Police say they arrested several people, including a suspected human trafficker, and busted during an operation they say is meant to crack down on sex trafficking during the FIFA World Cup.

"Human trafficking of any kind will never be tolerated in San Francisco,” San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew said in a statement Wednesday. "Our officers will be out in force, cracking down on sex trafficking during the World Cup and after."

The first arrest came on Friday, June 12, just a day after the opening World Cup match, when a man arranged to meet in San Francisco with what he thought was a sex worker, authorities said.

The sex worker, however, was actually a decoy, police said. When the suspect arrived and was greeted by officers, he ran away, throwing away his hacket in the process, police said.

Officers caught up to him and detained him. Inside the jacket was a gun with a loaded high-capacity magazine, another loaded magazine and a knife, police said.

Inside his car was another car with seven more high-capacity loaded magazines, police said.

The suspect, identified as Tyler Marchok, 25, of San Francisco, was taken into custody on suspicion of 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, police said.

Nearly a week later, officers busted a brothel in the 900 block of Bryant Street, police said.

"Officers searched the residence and located two male suspects engaged in sexual activity with other individuals," police said. Officers collected evidence indicating sex work was occurring inside the residence."

Both suspects were detained and cited for solicitation, while a third, 64-year-old Hong Yu, was arrested on suspicion of operating a residential brothel, police said.

The latest arrest happened Saturday when officers pulled over a man speeding and driving recklessly along Turk and Mason streets, police said.

Police say a girl in the man's backseat told them the suspect ignored her pleas to go home. Messages between the two show the suspect was trying to recruit the minor into sex work, police said.

The suspect, Otis Broughton, 28, of Daly City, was taken into custody on suspicion of human trafficking involving a minor by force and pandering, following the incident, police said.

"While the SFPD will continue to diligently investigate human trafficking, including sex trafficking, we also need the public’s help," police said. "If you suspect someone is being trafficked, report it. Some of the signs of human trafficking include when someone is being controlled, threatened or is unable to speak for themself."