Trigger warning: this article mentions suicide, physical and sexual abuse.
Bellevue SWAT officers raided a Washington mansion last week and arrested a 21-year-old man on human trafficking charges after women inside said he coerced them into creating explicit content for OnlyFans.
Allegations include forcing through use of violence to produce content as well as withholding access to their social media accounts and income generated by the content.
Survivors describe violence coercion and abuse
Authorities arrested Nikita Tyukalo after Bellevue SWAT officers raided the mansion known as “OnlyFans House” last week. He allegedly recruited young women into pornography and controlled their finances and housing.
Investigators shared that the women living at the property gave consistent accounts of coercion, financial control, abuse, and intimidation involving Tyukalo and two other young men. The mansion had no official connection to the OnlyFans company.
The Independent reports:
The women interviewed by police claim that they would be forced to stream for long hours, were given little in payment, and could not access their own social media and OnlyFans accounts. They further claimed they were pressured to produce increasingly explicit content and were pressured to take Adderall to keep them active.
One woman told police that she had been slapped and dragged around by her hair and had been humiliated and threatened with guns.
One survivor alleged that after opening up about suicidal thoughts, one of the men handed her a loaded firearm and told her to “do it.”
The women said they were initially promised up to $18,000 a month but ended up receiving around $1000 monthly. One reported being beaten for until she handed over a payment from a subscriber.
More arrests likely as investigation expands
Tyukalo now faces four counts of second-degree human trafficking, money laundering, and leading organised crime. Four young women also allege that he recruited them when they were 17 and persuaded them to create sexually explicit content on their 18th birthdays. He is currently held on $5 million bail due to concerns that he could intimidate witnesses or flee the country.
Authorities say the residence functioned as both a living space and a production hub for explicit online content. Investigators have also connected four additional properties to the alleged trafficking operation.
During the raid, police seized more than 300 cell phones, over 50 laptops, financial documents, cashier’s checks, and luxury vehicles. Also, a whiteboard allegedly outlining the group’s “content plan.”
Police say the property was known for large parties promoted on social media that reportedly attracted hundreds of attendees, including minors. According to law enforcement, authorities received more than 100 emergency calls tied to the gatherings involving allegations of underage drinking, fights, weapons, reckless driving, and intoxicated drivers
Additional arrests and charges are expected as the investigation continues. The two other men identified by survivors have not yet been charged.
OnlyFans said in a statement that the platform is intended only for users aged 18 and older and that creators must complete extensive identity verification before being allowed to use the site. However, on June 2, Czech police charged four people with trafficking for forcing women to produce content for the same platform. Clearly, there are limitations to the OnlyFans verification and safety systems.
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