A prominent Miami Beach socialite has been remanded in custody without bond, accused of human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of a minor on his luxury yacht.
Allegations of Abuse and Exploitation
Kutay Satiroglu, 45, was taken into custody on Wednesday following an investigation triggered by the family of a 17-year-old girl. The family reported that the teenager was being held against her will on Satiroglu's vessel. According to a police report, the victim stated that Satiroglu kept her on his yacht and forced her to have sex with his friends, charging up to $800 for each encounter.
The alleged victim first met Satiroglu at a nightclub in April. She initially told him she was 21 but confessed her true age, 17, that same evening. Despite knowing she was a minor, Satiroglu allegedly offered her a job as a steward on his yacht. Their relationship reportedly evolved into a romantic one before they moved onto the boat full-time.
The situation quickly turned abusive. The girl told law enforcement that Satiroglu then forced her into performing sexual services to help pay for the yacht's expenses. She claimed he taught her to demand payment upfront and provided her with drugs during parties he hosted. The criminal complaint also alleges that Satiroglu made her invite her own friends to the boat to have sex with him.
A Pattern of Violence and Previous Offences
The young victim reported that refusal to comply with his demands resulted in physical beatings. She stated that he had become violent with her just two days before she spoke to police. The investigation also uncovered allegations that Satiroglu was trafficking two other women as part of his boat charter business.
Satiroglu's online presence paints a picture of a lavish lifestyle, with years of social media photos showing him partying on his boats, riding jet skis, and surrounded by young women. His LinkedIn profile listed him as a commodore at King's Yacht in Miami Beach since 2017, a company that rents out private, luxury boats for events.
This is not Satiroglu's first encounter with the law. Prior to this week's arrest, he already had an extensive criminal record featuring more than 50 offences.
Legal Repercussions and Ongoing Case
Satiroglu was formally booked into jail on Thursday. The charges filed against him by the Miami-Dade County corrections system are severe: human trafficking, lewd and lascivious battery on a child, and contributing to the delinquency of a child.
A Miami-Dade judge reviewed the case and determined that Satiroglu would be held without bond, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations. The accused reportedly refused to speak with detectives before his arrest in this trafficking case.
