AG: Allegations Of Prostitution, Sex Trafficking In Greater Boston Massage Parlors
BOSTON (CBS) — State and federal investigators have arrested three people in connection with a human trafficking and prostitution ring.
Attorney General Martha Coakley's office announced Thursday, Zhen Lai, 37, of Quincy, Joseph Girouard, 55, of Revere, and Wenjie Dong, 49, of Malden were arrested by State Police and agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from local police departments.
Lai was arrested in Quincy, Girouard was arrested in Somerville and Dong was arrested in Malden.
The three are charged with one count each of Trafficking in Persons for Sexual Servitude and Keeping a House of Ill Fame. They will be arraigned Friday.
"We allege that these individuals ran two massage parlors that were thinly veiled fronts for prostitution," said Coakley. "Further, these two defendants allegedly profited from sexual services provided to clients by women they employed. We would like to thank HSI and our local police partners for assisting in the investigation and arrests."
Police say they ran Sun Spa, also known as Sun Studio, in Wellesley and Bodywork in Revere. During an investigation, police say they found the massage parlors were offering sexual activity between masseuses and their clients in exchange for cash that was characterized as "tips."
Police also say the two advertised their spas on Websites known to advertise prostitution.
