Three People Involved In Prostitution And Human Trafficking Case Appear In Court
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GREENSBURG (KDKA) -- Three people involved in a human trafficking and prostition ring at local massage parlors stood trial today.
The preliminary hearing was postponed for one of the women. The cases for the other three were waived to court.
Hui Xu, Huicun Wei, Chang Yu Chen and Robert Yerick are charged with conspiracy, corruption, trafficking, prostitution and dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts.
Hui Xu is being held on $100,000 bail since her arrest on March 22, however, her attorney Charles Porter is maintaining her innocence.
"I've reviewed the presentment, and my first comment to the prosecutor was, 'where's the rest of it?'" asked Charles Porter. "It didn't really show me a whole lot, but suggested to me there was a lot of evidence against my client."
Xu is the widow of Henry Caruso, the 49-year-old veteran guard at the Westmoreland County Prision killed himself in November after being suspended from his job as a result of the investigation.
Caruso's attorney Thomas Shaffer was also in court today, trying get the assets that were seized to be released to his adult daughter.
"I am going to file a petition, because the government seized numerous assets," he said. "For instance, a life insurance policy that was garnered by my client that is seized, two decades ago, has nothing to do with it."
Two other suspects, described as "handymen" were also in court today and waived their hearings as well.
Another woman, identified as the owner of Judy's Oriental Massage Parlor in Murrysville as granted a continuance.
Xu was released under the condition she immediate be placed on electronic monitoring by the Westmoreland County Probation Office.