TOMS RIVER – A series of massage parlors, including one in Toms River, offered sexual services for money, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Spa Wellness in Toms River was among a list of other businesses that were owned or operated by four people who were brought up on charges.
Zhejun Piao, 37, a Chinese national; Miyeon Choi, 37, a South Korean national; Shangxian Cui, 36, a Chinese national; and Meixiang Jin, 34, of Palisades Park, New Jersey; were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise.
From at least May 2017, they defendants owned or operated the Toms River business as well as Coco Spa in Paterson, Gold Spa in Passaic, 785 Spa in Passaic, Bergen Acupressure in Fairview, Queen Spa in Edgewater, Hawaii Spa in Edgewater, Good Day Spa in East Brunswick, and New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle, New York.
These spas allegedly advertised sexual services online, posting images of female sex workers and describing sexual services offered.
Police obtained evidence that the owners were aware of such activities. Such evidence included emails of draft ads for the spas and cryptocurrency transfers. Investigators said they observed Cui transport supplies such as mouthwash and paper towels to the spas, drop off cash and then deposit more than $50,000 into a bank account with Jin.
They face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; the U.S. State Department, Diplomatic Security Service; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation. He also thanked HSI New York, Hudson Valley Office; Customs and Border Protection; the Passaic County Prosecutors Office; Passaic County Sheriff; Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office; Bergen County Sheriff; Edgewater Police; Fairview Police; Paterson Police; East Brunswick Police; New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; South Toms River Police; Edison Police; Toms River Police Department; Morris County Prosecutor’s Office; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office; New Rochelle Police; Westchester District Attorney’s Office; Federal Air Marshals; New York State Police; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations; and the Palisades Park Police Department.
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