Four individuals are accused of owning, operating and deriving money from illicit massage parlors and spas in New Jersey and New York that offered prostitution, said the U.S. District Attorney’s Office.
Zhejun Piao, 37, a Chinese national; Miyeon Choi, 37, a South Korean national; Shangxian Cui, 36, Chinese national; and Meixiang Jin, 34, of Palisades Park, are being charged with one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise, officials said.
The defendants allegedly knew these spas were offering sexual services in exchange for money, said the attorney’s office.
The New Jersey spas that offered these services, according to the attorney general, are:
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Coco Spa in Paterson
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Gold Spa in Passaic
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785 Spa in Passaic
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Bergen Acupressure in Fairview
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Queen Spa in Edgewater
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Hawaii Spa in Edgewater
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Good Day Spa in East Brunswick
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Spa Wellness in Toms River
New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle was the one New York Spa involved in the charges.
Police had found out about the illegal activities through various online platforms that allegedly posted images of female sex workers and advertised sexual services by describing the services that were offered, officials said.
Law enforcement say they have obtained evidence of the individual’s involvement and personal knowledge of the illegal operation. This evidence allegedly includes emails of draft advertisements for the spas that were sent to Choi and cryptocurrency transfers between Choi and Piao and the online advertisement company.
Cui and Jin are being accused of depositing over $50,000 of cash to a bank account. Cui is also being accused of making cash pickups at the spas and delivering supplies to the establishment.
All four men were arrested on Aug. 8 and made their first appearance in Newark federal court on Friday. They were all released pending trial.
Homeland Security Investigations reportedly led the multi-agency investigation that included multiple local law enforcements across New Jersey and New York and the Newark District U.S. Attorney’s Office. Federal law enforcement agencies were also involved.
“Homeland Security Investigations Newark and our law enforcement partners worked relentlessly during the investigative and prosecutorial phases of this case against multiple illicit businesses in New Jersey and New York,” said acting HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker.
The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Men charged with operating illicit massage parlors in Bergen NJ
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