Teh One Who Knocks
06-14-2021, 10:28 AM
Katie Dowd - SFGATE
https://i.imgur.com/b0NqbW6.png
Two Bay Area residents have been arrested on suspicion of running a multi-million dollar human trafficking operation in the South Bay.
"The investigation began in December of 2019, when detectives from the Milpitas Police Department and Investigators from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office identified a brothel in the City of Milpitas," Milpitas police said in a statement.
According to prosecutors, David Davies, 57, and Larong Hu, 38, advertised their brothel on Backpage and through their own website. They allegedly trafficked women from overseas and confiscated their passports once they arrived. Six female victims were rescued, and $2 million was seized in the investigation. The rescued victims were provided services through Community Solutions, an organization that provides critical services for victims of human trafficking, according to police.
"These women are forced to have sex with between 10 and 15 men a day. They come in, in half hour intervals," Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Patrick Vanier told NBC Bay Area.
According to the district attorney's office, Davies and Hu were using a high-end residential complex as one of their brothels. One current tenant told NBC Bay Area that rent there can be up to $5,000 a month. There is no indication either tenants or apartment employees knew about the alleged brothel, which was apparently run in a high-trafficked area.
As part of a larger human trafficking investigation, additional brothels were found throughout the county and search warrants were served in Milpitas, San Jose and Palo Alto, police said.
On Wednesday, Davies and Hu were taken into custody in the 100 block of Tiger Lily Street in Milpitas. They have been charged with crimes related to human trafficking and are both due in court on Monday. According to jail records, they are being held with no bail.
Anyone who is a victim of human trafficking, or knows someone who is, should call 911 immediately or call the 24-Hour National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Callers can also reach the hotline by texting 233733 to initiate online chats. Human trafficking victims, whether U.S. citizens or not, are eligible for services including immigration assistance.
The Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
https://i.imgur.com/b0NqbW6.png
Two Bay Area residents have been arrested on suspicion of running a multi-million dollar human trafficking operation in the South Bay.
"The investigation began in December of 2019, when detectives from the Milpitas Police Department and Investigators from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office identified a brothel in the City of Milpitas," Milpitas police said in a statement.
According to prosecutors, David Davies, 57, and Larong Hu, 38, advertised their brothel on Backpage and through their own website. They allegedly trafficked women from overseas and confiscated their passports once they arrived. Six female victims were rescued, and $2 million was seized in the investigation. The rescued victims were provided services through Community Solutions, an organization that provides critical services for victims of human trafficking, according to police.
"These women are forced to have sex with between 10 and 15 men a day. They come in, in half hour intervals," Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Patrick Vanier told NBC Bay Area.
According to the district attorney's office, Davies and Hu were using a high-end residential complex as one of their brothels. One current tenant told NBC Bay Area that rent there can be up to $5,000 a month. There is no indication either tenants or apartment employees knew about the alleged brothel, which was apparently run in a high-trafficked area.
As part of a larger human trafficking investigation, additional brothels were found throughout the county and search warrants were served in Milpitas, San Jose and Palo Alto, police said.
On Wednesday, Davies and Hu were taken into custody in the 100 block of Tiger Lily Street in Milpitas. They have been charged with crimes related to human trafficking and are both due in court on Monday. According to jail records, they are being held with no bail.
Anyone who is a victim of human trafficking, or knows someone who is, should call 911 immediately or call the 24-Hour National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Callers can also reach the hotline by texting 233733 to initiate online chats. Human trafficking victims, whether U.S. citizens or not, are eligible for services including immigration assistance.
The Bay City News Service contributed to this report.