Rep. Speier Praises Police Following Sex Trafficking Bust

Congresswoman Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, has praised the recent arrest of an alleged sex trafficker in San Mateo County and says the arrest sends a statement -- that human trafficking will not be allowed on the Peninsula.

Zhi Liu, 49, of San Bruno, was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, pandering, and pimping on June 13 after a state Department of Justice investigation revealed a Sacramento prostitution ring was using an apartment in San Bruno, according to San Mateo County prosecutors.

The ring was rotating prostitutes through the Bay Area, including through the San Bruno residence run by Liu who allegedly went by "Bob" and his wife, Wei Guo, 51, who used the name, "Coco."

Authorities are still trying to track down Guo, who is wanted on a $100,000 arrest warrant, San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Guidotti said Wednesday.

According to prosecutors, the brothel moved from San Bruno to a location in South San Francisco in May. State investigators took down the brothels in San Mateo County and in Sacramento County, where three others were arrested last week.

In court Wednesday, a friend of the defendant offered a property bond to release Liu, who is being held on $200,000 bail, Guidotti said.

A hearing was held to determine if the property offered for bail was involved in any illegal activity, Guidotti said.

She said there was no evidence to prove there was any illicit connections with the property and the bond is expected to go through.

Speier's office released a statement Wednesday saying the Liu and Guo are suspected of being part of a much larger international human trafficking ring which involved young Chinese women that were moved between Boston, New York, Sacramento, and San Mateo County. 

“This bust sends a message to any trafficker who wants to bring victims to San Mateo County -- human trafficking will not be tolerated in our community,” Speier said.

“As a result of law enforcement efforts, two young women have been freed from modern day slavery.”

Speier said it's important for San Mateo County residents to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior and to report anything suspicious to local police.

“This case is a prime example as it allegedly took place in the communities of both South San Francisco and San Bruno. That is why it is critical that community members be on board this effort -- if you see something suspicious, say something by contacting your local police department. Human traffickers don’t recognize city, county or state boundaries—they take their victims where business is most profitable and detection least likely,” she said.

Each year, an estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders and 100,000 to 300,000 domestic minors are forced into sexual slavery. 

Speier launched a Zero Tolerance Initiative in San Mateo in 2011 and has held several anti-trafficking trainings for law enforcement agencies and hotel and airline workers.

Bay City News Service contributed to this article.