Bellevue house at center of OnlyFans trafficking case
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An Eastside luxury house was used as part of a human-trafficking enterprise fueled by earnings from OnlyFans, Bellevue police say.
The big picture: Court documents allege a system of control exerted over women, hidden beneath a flashy veneer of party mansions, luxury cars and adult content.
The latest: King County prosecutors on Monday charged 21-year-old Nikita Tyukalo with four counts of second-degree human trafficking, one count of money laundering and one count of leading organized crime. He remained in custody as of Monday on $5 million bail.
- Tyukalo told at least one alleged victim that he ran OnlyFans accounts "like an agency," and "that he changed the entire trajectory" of women's lives by helping them travel on private jets and make "a substantial amount of money," according to court records.
- Tyukalo doesn't have an attorney of record listed yet, but KOMO reported that an unnamed attorney who appeared on his behalf last week said his client was running a legitimate business.
Catch up quick: The investigation began last fall after numerous neighbor complaints about large parties — some drawing hundreds of attendees — at a rental home on Southeast 44th Place, according to Bellevue police.
- Over the months, officers responded to more than 100 incidents at the property and ultimately connected it to a broader operation spanning multiple Eastside homes, police say.
Go deeper: Multiple women told detectives they were locked out of accounts created in their names and couldn't access earnings; one account generated nearly $230,000, according to records reviewed by investigators, per court documents.
- Women alleged they were required to livestream for at least eight hours a day — and often longer — before spending additional hours producing content, sometimes while on the prescription stimulant Adderall.
- Several women alleged they were threatened, assaulted or restrained when they resisted, and one said her belongings were donated to Goodwill.
By the numbers: Police say some parties drew more than 300 attendees, including minors.
- Detectives seized more than 300 cell phones, 50-plus laptops, financial records, earnings ledgers and content-planning materials during a search of the property.
What's next: Bellevue police say the investigation remains active and that additional arrests and charges may follow.