District Attorney's task force outlines investigations, illicit massage business count and 2026 event planning; warns of grant uncertainty

Investigator Josh Singleton, speaking for the Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force at the May 1 commission meeting, described the task force’s recent workload, staffing and priorities, and warned that federal grant uncertainty could force personnel reductions ahead of major sporting events planned for the region in 2026.

Singleton said the task force brings together investigators, detectives and prosecutors from multiple agencies including the District Attorney’s Office, the sheriff’s office, San Jose Police Department and federal partners. He listed members and partners by name and said prosecutors recently moved trafficking prosecution under the county’s organized‑crime unit. The task force is also rebranding itself as the Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Task Force to reduce local confusion about the group’s acronym and scope.

Among operational updates, Singleton said the task force and partners have identified 144 illicit massage businesses across the county suspected of facilitating commercial sex acts and that they have opened four new trafficking investigations in the first quarter of the year—two that the speaker described as labor‑trafficking investigations and two as commercial‑sex trafficking investigations. He also reported 11 newly identified adult victims in quarter‑one and said four prosecution cases were recently resolved. The team is working with service providers including Community Solutions, the YWCA and the Child Advocacy Center for victim services.

Singleton said the task force is developing a countywide community assessment—intended to be the first comprehensive look at trafficking patterns in Santa Clara County—and expects the report to be available around September, pending data collection and memoranda of understanding with partners. He said the task force has a canine trained to detect electronics used in investigations and is using forensic accounting in money‑laundering and corroboration efforts.

A major item of focus is planning and regional coordination for 2026 sporting events, including the Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup, which Singleton said will require cross‑jurisdictional intelligence sharing, prevention and operational planning. The task force is convening a regional steering committee of subject‑matter experts to coordinate across the Bay Area.

Singleton repeatedly warned the commission that an anticipated federal grant—an enhanced collaborative model grant from the Office for Victims of Crime that the task force has received in past cycles—had not been released; he said if the grant is not renewed, the task force could face “personnel cuts” that would affect its ability to prepare for 2026 events. He asked the commission to assist in identifying alternative funding and partners.

Singleton said the task force is using an updated 38‑page county human‑trafficking guideline (last updated Feb. 2024) for training 9‑1‑1 dispatchers, patrol officers, investigators and service providers and that they are training law enforcement across the county on a train‑the‑trainer model. He also said the task force is standing up an illicit massage business coalition that will include code enforcement, prosecutors and city attorneys to reduce harms while minimizing unintended consequences to victims.

Commissioners and presenters raised questions about continued‑presence immigration remedies, vacatur of prior convictions for trafficking victims and how multi‑agency sting or closure operations are coordinated with advocates. Singleton and other staff said the task force is pursuing continued presence with federal partners in appropriate cases and works closely with the District Attorney's victim services unit to address vacatur and wraparound services.