Four Individuals Charged with Operating Illicit Massage Parlors in New Jersey And New York
Friday, August 9, 2024
For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey
NEWARK, N.J. – Four individuals have been charged with operating a series of illicit massage parlors in New Jersey and New York, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Zhejun Piao, 37, a Chinese national, Miyeon Choi, 37, a South Korean national, Shangxian Cui, 36, Chinese national, and Meixiang Jin, 34, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise. All four defendants were arrested on Aug. 8, 2024 and made their initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court. They were all released.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From at least May 2017, the defendants owned, operated, and derived money from illicit massage parlors or spas in New Jersey and New York that, as the defendants knew, had been offering sexual services in exchange for money. The New Jersey spas include 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 Spa Wellness in Toms River. The New York spa includes New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle. 

Each of the spas allegedly advertised sexual services on various online platforms by posting images of the female sex workers and describing the sexual services offered. Law enforcement obtained evidence demonstrating each of the defendants’ personal knowledge of, and involvement in, the illegal operation. For example, emails obtained by law enforcement show that Choi received what appear to be draft advertisements for the spas, and other emails and records show Choi and Piao transferred cryptocurrency to an online advertisement company. Law enforcement also observed Cui transport supplies, including mouthwash and paper towels, to the spas, make suspected cash pickups, and deposit over $50,000 of cash with Jin to a bank account.

The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise carries 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 Department; Fairview Police Department; Paterson Police Department; East Brunswick Police Department; New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; South Toms River Police Department; Edison Police Department; South Toms River Police Department; Morris County Prosecutor’s Office; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office; New Rochelle Police Department; Westchester District Attorney’s Office; Federal Air Marshals; New York State Police; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations; and the Palisades Park Police Department

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey S. Smith and Javon Henry of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. 
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cops say they were very "hands on" lol.

I don't want to give away too much, this happens in Bensonhurst quietly, one of the few remaining money makers.

I completely agree with you. In NY at least (although I believe it's also true all across the U.S.,) the prostitution racket is booming more than ever before.

Throughout the five boroughs, Westchester, Long Island, Upstate, CT, NJ, PA, MD, etc., etc., across the nation, illegal "brothels" have popped up like wildfire...and they continue to do so.

It may not be considered "traditional LCN organized crime" as defined by the FBI playbook. But its a sprawling high-organized multi-billion dollar a year racket nonetheless...run by "Chinese" OC.

Regardless of who may be behind it at any given time, the plain truth is that you'll never stop it. In one form or another, sex sells.

Whats that famous adage? ---- "It the world's oldest profession"

Speaking of Bensonhurst does Activity is go on in that Neighborhood despite not being a Italian Neighborhood like it once was and are there still social clubs in Bensonhurst or other Neighborhoods as well as Guys in the Life still living in or around Brooklyn like Bay Ridge Gravesend Dyker Heights Bath Beach ?

Private social clubs within the five boroughs are far and few between nowadays. It not like in the past where nearly every Italian neighborhood had a least a few, if not a dozen or more.

There are still a few operating in certain areas of Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx. But they're a dying breed.

First of all, the younger neighborhood guys and wise guys of today dont favor social clubs like their fathers and uncles did.

Also, many older neighborhood folks used to like to come and play cards, drink expresso, and talk among themselves. Where you gonna find these people today? They've pretty much all died out or moved out.

Do guys Still live in the Brooklyn Neighborhoods I named as well or are they all in Staten Island Long Island and New Jersey pretty much ?

There are still some guys who reside in the five boroughs. But most of them are either brokesters or guys still grinding out a living.

Most wiseguys who've made money over the years wanted something better for themselves and their wives and children. So they moved from the gritty inner city neighborhoods, out to the suburbs of L.I., N.J., CT, Westchester, etc.

The happy ending is much better than the "unhappy ending". The unhappy ending is kind of like the happy ending but it becomes unhappy when the girl you think is straight from the orient turns out to be straight from the 5th precinct. Nothing happy about that.

LOL. No doubt.