A Hayward police officer took money and free sex from a brothel in exchange for keeping the illegal operation safe from law enforcement and competitors, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
Officer Benjamin Yarbrough, who is related to the police chief, was charged this week with one felony count of accepting a bribe after allegedly receiving $1,000 and free sex from prostitutes at a Hayward brothel, according to prosecutors.
Yarbrough was identified during a 2025 San Jose police investigation into prostitution involving Yanqiong Xiong, who has since been charged with pimping and pandering.
San Jose investigators also seized 11 cellphones and discovered evidence of a suspected brothel on Main Street near Warren Street in Hayward. They also discovered that Yarbrough allegedly had frequent contact with Xiong.
Phone records taken from his personal and police-issued cellphones also show that from March 12, 2025, through April 1, 2025, Yarbrough allegedly asked what type of prostitutes were available, explained that he is a friend to Xiong and the sex trafficking operation and said in messages, “I don’t bust I protect and keep safe” and that he can “work out details” to keep the sex workers safe, according to court documents filed by the District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors also say that surveillance photos show him at the brothel location and those photos match the dates and times on the text messages.
Cash in a red envelope
Xiong told investigators that she gave Yarbrough 10 $100 bills in a red envelope and that she provided the cash and access to sex workers so Yarbrough would not “bust” her, prosecutors said.
During the district attorney’s investigation, Yarbrough denied taking money, knowing who Xiong was, having sex with anyone at the Hayward brothel and providing protection to anyone.
Last July, San Jose investigators alerted Hayward Police Chief Bryan Matthews, who said in a news release Wednesday that because of his family relationship with Yarbrough, he asked the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office to conduct the criminal investigation.
Matthews didn’t say how he and Yarbrough are related and a Hayward police spokesperson didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
After learning of the investigation, Matthews said Yarbrough was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of two investigations, one by Alameda County prosecutors and one by HPD’s Internal Affairs Unit.
“As Chief, I want to assure our community that we take all allegations of misconduct, including allegations of criminal conduct, very seriously and any criminal conduct on the part of any Hayward Police Department employee will not be tolerated regardless of any personal relationships that may exist,” Matthews said.