5 arrested after raids at 2 Pittsburgh-area spas following possible prostitution investigation
NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) — Five people were arrested after Homeland Security and local police raided two spas in North Strabane Township on Thursday, investigating them for possible prostitution.
The suspects were identified as Walter Mock Jr., 59, Jing Wang, 53, Yan Miao, 51, Saizhu Ouyang, 49, and Ying Luo, 52.
North Strabane Township police said after a lengthy investigation, they confirmed reports of criminal activity at Jin Spa on McClelland Road and Yan Spa on Houston Hill Church Road, which are owned and operated by the same owner.
Police said undercover officers performed five operations between October and now.
Police said Mock and Wang were the leaders of the operation. They said Mock would take workers back and forth between spas while Wang allegedly took people in for massages and knowingly exchanged sex acts for money.
KDKA-TV cameras caught three women being brought either out of or into Yan Spa Thursday afternoon.
"It's sickening, it really is," said Melinda Ferrante, who was driving by the raid at Jin Spa as it took place, and told her 13-year-old son who was in the car with her that she assumed it was some sort of sex raid.
"What I worry about is was it young girls?" Ferrante said. "Was it girls being coerced to do this or was it willingly these women doing this?"
On Thursday, North Strabane Township police said the department along with state police and Homeland Security Investigations carried out search warrants and arrest warrants at both spas and connected residences.
"I mean I'm shocked, I mean you hear about spas like that but you don't expect them to be right there," said Ben Settimio, who lives nearby.
Five employees and principals of the business were arrested, police said.
"It ruins families is what it does," Ferrante said. "The customers who come in, and they could have families at home, and it's all gonna get brought out and it's just gonna destroy so many lives and families right now."
She's hoping the charges stick.
North Strabane Township police also noted that the spas had been operating "in close proximity to public schools and medical facilities."
Both locations have been closed pending further investigation.
"Something needs to be done because this has been going on, I know it happened in Bridgeville, I know it happened in Mount Oliver a while ago, it's just going on way too much," Ferrante said.
Police are working to determine who the clients were. They told KDKA-TV if you were a victim of an assault at either spa, to please reach out to them. Anyone with information about illegal activity at either location is asked to call North Strabane Township police at 724-746-4090 or email tips@nstpd.com.