Fiona Ma: Citizens Can Fight Brothels

Last January, many Sunset District residents were stunned to learn that federal agents raided several neighborhood houses that were allegedly part of international prostitution rings. Consistent with my "zero tolerance" crime policy, I am not only working on legislation that will address issues concerning massage parlors and other business, but I am also urging citizens to join me in sending a clear message that the Sunset will not tolerate such activity. Specifically, the law enforcement officials with whom I am working have made it clear that conscientious citizens are a crucial weapon in the fight against residential brothels.

After the recent raids, I worked with US Assistant Attorney Steven Gruel (the prosecutor handling the case and Golden Gates Heights Neighborhood Association president) and SF Human Rights Commission Chair Malcolm Heinicke, and one thing is clear - these prostitution rings do not constitute a "victimless crime."

In many situations, ring operators traffic young women from underdeveloped Asian countries. Once smuggled into America, these girls must essentially repay their exorbitant passage fees through a form of indentured servitude or sex slavery. According to officials, the women are moved around from brothel to brothel. As such, these prostitution rings represent a crime against our neighborhood, a crime against immigrant women and, frankly, a crime against humanity.

According to Gruel, citizen tips are a critical means of detecting neighborhood brothels. Specifically, he advises that the following signs may suggest criminal activity:

· a high degree of foot traffic at the house, especially in the evening or late-night hours;

· visitors to the house are usually men and they frequently use mobile phones just before entering the house and then stay for about 45 minutes;

· the windows in the house are obscured with sheets or other items at all or most times to prevent outsiders from looking in;

· the occupants of the house are not known to you or other neighbors and they do not maintain the exterior of the house; and

· women are occasionally seen arriving at the house with luggage.

If a house in your neighborhood fits some or all of these descriptions, please feel free to contact my office, the SF Police Department or federal law enforcement officials. In particular, Gruel has suggested that you contact him at (415) 436-6936 or Homeland Security Agent Michael Desmond at (415) 844-5459. (Of course, Gruel cannot comment on the pending investigations concerning the raids last January.) Moreover, if you suspect a house of operating a brothel, recording the license plate numbers of the visitors can be of great assistance.

Some constituents have commented that they might be reluctant to report potential brothels for fear that it may lead to the prosecution, or at least deportation, of the poor women involved. This is a perfectly understandable reaction, but, please know that federal law has protections for women trapped in these trafficking rings who assist law enforcement officials. As such, reporting such instances may actually assist the women being victimized and it will certainly send a clear message that our neighborhood will not tolerate such activity.

Supervisor Fiona Ma represents District 4.