{"id":2621706,"date":"2026-06-30T16:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T20:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-the-doj-prosecutes-illicit-massage-parlors\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T16:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T20:06:09","slug":"how-the-doj-prosecutes-illicit-massage-parlors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-the-doj-prosecutes-illicit-massage-parlors\/","title":{"rendered":"How the DOJ prosecutes illicit massage parlors"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-the-doj-prosecutes-illicit-massage-parlors%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2621706&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A husband-and-wife team operated a network of illicit massage businesses across New Jersey and New York for nearly ten years, disguising brothels where women were coerced into providing sexual services daily. The case, which resulted in guilty pleas, sheds light on the hidden world of illegal massage parlors involved in sex and labor trafficking, frequently enough linked with larger criminal organizations that recruit vulnerable women, many from abroad, and move them between locations to maintain a constant workforce.Court records reveal that women worked long hours, with some servicing up to 20 customers daily, and were controlled through various means such as debt bondage and intimidation. The traffickers involved operated behind the facade of legitimate businesses, making inquiry challenging due to their discreet operations and victims&#8217; fears of retaliation, deportation, or language barriers. Law enforcement emphasizes targeting the traffickers\u2019 finances, which can led to dismantling these networks; in this case, authorities seized over $1.2 million and luxury items. The Department of Justice is committed to prioritizing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meet-the-veteran-led-group-going-to-war-with-human-trafficking-in-americas-backyard\/\" title=\"Meet The Veteran-Led Group Going To War With Human ... In America\u2019s Backyard\">anti-human trafficking efforts<\/a>, particularly protecting children and vulnerable groups, and stresses the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies to tackle these complex crimes.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For nearly a decade, a husband-and-wife team operated a network of massage businesses stretching across <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1065\">New Jersey <\/a>and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"61\">New York<\/a>. These seemingly innocent storefronts concealed brothels where women were expected to provide sexual services to customers from morning until midnight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-nj\/pr\/husband-and-wife-admit-promoting-prostitution-illicit-massage-parlors-new-jersey-and-new\">case<\/a>, which ended in guilty pleas in late May, offers a glimpse into a little-known corner of the commercial sex trade: the illicit massage business. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4629438\/army-captain-pregnant-soldier-abortion-drugs\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Army captain sentenced to 12 years for slipping pregnant soldier abortion drugs<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4629086\/fare-evasion-dismissal-dc-council\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mass dismissal of fare evasion offenses sparks concern from DC Council: \u2018Big problem\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4628922\/china-based-megadonor-funding-leftist-activism-now-under-doj-investigation\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>China-based megadonor funding leftist activism now under DOJ investigation<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prosecution also comes as the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"167\">Justice Department<\/a> signaled it intends to continue making human trafficking a priority under the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a>. Earlier this month, acting Attorney General<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"20883\"> Todd Blanche<\/a> appointed veteran federal prosecutor Ali Serano to lead the department\u2019s anti-human trafficking efforts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEnding human trafficking and the exploitation of children has been and remains one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice,\u201d Blanche <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-appoints-national-coordinator-child-exploitation-and\">said <\/a>in announcing her appointment. \u201cWith [the] appointment of Ali Serano, we are sending a clear and unmistakable message to predators: we are coming for you.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-is-the-illicit-massage-business\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the illicit massage business?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Illicit massage businesses, or IMBs, operate under the appearance of legitimate massage parlors or spas while secretly selling sex. Although they often appear to be independent storefront businesses, anti-trafficking advocates say many are connected through larger criminal networks that recruit vulnerable women, frequently foreign nationals, and move them between locations to keep a constant rotation of workers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are between 7,500 and 9,000 illicit massage businesses operating across the United States, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-md\/page\/file\/1573256\/dl?inline\">estimates<\/a> from the Polaris Project and the DOJ. Many involve elements of labor trafficking, sex trafficking, or both, with workers controlled through debt bondage, deception, threats, or intimidation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Court records from the New Jersey case illustrate how the businesses operate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to prosecutors, women lived inside the spas and worked approximately 16-hour days, seven days a week. Customers paid between $160 and $175 for sexual services, and some locations even offered loyalty cards that rewarded repeat customers with free visits. Business records showed some women serviced as many as 20 customers in a single day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As one of the conspiracy\u2019s leaders, Hee Choi admitted recruiting women to work in the spas, advertising sexual services online, scheduling appointments, and directing other members of the operation. Her husband, Yong Piao, admitted to delivering groceries, condoms, medications, and other supplies to the businesses while transporting cash proceeds and business records. Investigators recovered approximately $1.2 million in cash, along with luxury watches, jewelry, and designer handbags, all of which the pair agreed to forfeit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of facilities in aid of a racketeering enterprise.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-difficult-crime-to-investigate\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A difficult crime to investigate<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serano, who previously prosecuted human trafficking cases in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> before her appointment, said <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >illicit massage businesses present unique investigative challenges<\/a> because they often appear to be ordinary businesses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMassage parlors \u2026 cross over two major areas of trafficking, sex trafficking and labor trafficking,\u201d Serano told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cIt is something that\u2019s very hard to detect.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike street prostitution, she said, massage businesses often operate behind closed doors in commercial storefronts, making it difficult for law enforcement to identify victims or gather evidence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s hard to infiltrate as law enforcement,\u201d she said. \u201cCustomers aren\u2019t going to say anything. Owners or landlords aren\u2019t going to say anything because they\u2019re making money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Victims themselves also frequently hesitate to cooperate, she said, often because they fear deportation, face language barriers, or worry traffickers will retaliate against family members overseas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf they\u2019re not aware of their rights, or their fear of deportation, or maybe their family is going to be harmed if they say something, those are all reasons why it\u2019s very difficult to detect and prosecute,\u201d Serano said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even after charges are filed, trafficking investigations often take years to resolve, making it difficult to keep survivors engaged throughout lengthy prosecutions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serano said one of the most effective ways to dismantle trafficking organizations is to attack their finances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeople engage in trafficking \u2026 for money,\u201d she said. \u201cIf there\u2019s no money in it, eventually it\u2019ll dry up and go away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That requires investigators to do more than identify traffickers and rescue survivors. Financial investigators from agencies such as the IRS and U.S. Treasury often play a key role in tracing profits, freezing assets, and securing restitution for victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDespite the difficulties in handling these cases, our investigators and prosecutors have the knowledge, training, and experience to overcome these challenges,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/l-a-county-d-a-gascon-dismantles-hardcore-gang-unit-for-new-public-health-approach\/\" title=\"L.A. County D.A. Gasc\u00f3n Dismantles Hardcore Gang Unit For New \u2018Public Health Approach\u2019\">veteran prosecutor<\/a> said. \u201cWe will continue to work tirelessly to bring the traffickers to justice, as we have been doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The New Jersey case reflected that strategy, with prosecutors seizing roughly $1.2 million in cash and numerous luxury items tied to the operation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serano said successful prosecutions also depend on close cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEverybody brings something to the table,\u201d she said. \u201cYour local cops know where this stuff is happening. The feds bring resources, expertise, and financial investigators. Bringing the best of what everybody has together is a great way to do these cases.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4617529\/ai-deepfake-ad-midterm-election-campaign\/\">AI DEEPFAKE ADS INVADE MIDTERM ELECTION CAMPAIGNS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While DOJ has prosecuted trafficking cases under multiple administrations, Serano said the department\u2019s focus extends well beyond any single industry. Instead, she said, the department is prioritizing crimes involving children and other vulnerable victims, including labor trafficking, sex trafficking, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/second-minor-sues-twitter-over-sex-trafficking-on-social-media-site\/\" title=\"Second Minor Sues Twitter Over ... On Social Media Site\">child sexual abuse material<\/a>, and migrant exploitation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnything dealing with children or vulnerable victims is a priority,\u201d Serano said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Decade-long NJ\/NY massage biz hid sex trafficking ring<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2621707,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP20311728782915.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[81987,81986,51050,33118],"class_list":["post-2621706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-doj-enforcement","tag-illicit-massage-parlors","tag-law-enforcement-2","tag-legal-proceedings"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP20311728782915.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2621706"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621706\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2621710,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621706\/revisions\/2621710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2621707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2621706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2621706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2621706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}