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NEWARK, NJ – Today, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced charges against four individuals accused of operating illicit massage parlors in New Jersey and New York. The defendants, Zhejun Piao, 37, a Chinese national, Miyeon Choi, 37, a South Korean national, Shangxian Cui, 36, a Chinese national, and Meixiang Jin, 34, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, face charges of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise.
Arrested on August 8, 2024, all four made their initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court and were subsequently released.
The operation included multiple spas in both states, such as Coco Spa in Paterson, Gold Spa in Passaic, and New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle.
The operation solicited customers on social media. Advertisements on X offered massage services in Toms River for $305 for a ‘tree top’ massage with “fireworks all day long” according to archived pages on the internet.
Other local massage parlors are still operating similarly, including one ‘by the Ocean County Mall’ and one in Howell Township.
“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,” the Department of Justice said in a statement.
These establishments reportedly offered sexual services for money and actively advertised these services on various online platforms, utilizing images of female sex workers and descriptions of the services available.
Evidence gathered by law enforcement includes emails and financial transactions that indicate the defendants’ direct involvement and awareness of the operations. Notably, Choi and Piao were found transferring cryptocurrency for spa advertisements, and Cui was observed managing logistical support for the facilities, including the transportation of supplies and handling of cash.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations Newark, the U.S. State Department, Diplomatic Security Service, and the New Jersey State Police, among others.
The defendants could face up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000 if convicted. U.S. Attorney Sellinger has acknowledged the efforts of all participating law enforcement agencies in addressing this significant criminal enterprise.
Toms River Massage Parlor Part of New Jersey and New York Prostitution Ring
NEWARK, NJ – Today, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced charges against four individuals accused of operating illicit massage parlors in New Jersey and New York. The defendants, Zhejun Piao, 37, a Chinese national, Miyeon Choi, 37, a South Korean national, Shangxian Cui, 36, a Chinese national, and Meixiang Jin, 34, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, face charges of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise.
Arrested on August 8, 2024, all four made their initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court and were subsequently released.
The operation included multiple spas in both states, such as Coco Spa in Paterson, Gold Spa in Passaic, and New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle.
The operation solicited customers on social media. Advertisements on X offered massage services in Toms River for $305 for a ‘tree top’ massage with “fireworks all day long” according to archived pages on the internet.
Other local massage parlors are still operating similarly, including one ‘by the Ocean County Mall’ and one in Howell Township.
“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,” the Department of Justice said in a statement.
These establishments reportedly offered sexual services for money and actively advertised these services on various online platforms, utilizing images of female sex workers and descriptions of the services available.
Evidence gathered by law enforcement includes emails and financial transactions that indicate the defendants’ direct involvement and awareness of the operations. Notably, Choi and Piao were found transferring cryptocurrency for spa advertisements, and Cui was observed managing logistical support for the facilities, including the transportation of supplies and handling of cash.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations Newark, the U.S. State Department, Diplomatic Security Service, and the New Jersey State Police, among others.
The defendants could face up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000 if convicted. U.S. Attorney Sellinger has acknowledged the efforts of all participating law enforcement agencies in addressing this significant criminal enterprise.
D.C. Resident Sentenced for Defrauding COVID-19 Assistance Program
WASHINGTON, DC – Khin Phoo Ngon, a 27-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in D.C. Superior Court to 23 months in prison for her involvement in a scheme that defrauded a COVID-19 tenant assistance program out of more than $245,000. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott, and Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas announced the sentencing.
In addition to her prison term, Judge Jason Park ordered Ngon to pay $206,320 in restitution to the District government and a $600 fine to the victims compensation fund. She will also undergo three years of supervised release following her imprisonment.
Ngon admitted in her guilty plea that she submitted seven fraudulent applications in 2021 to the Stronger Together by Assisting You (STAY DC) program, which was designed to help renters cover unpaid rent and utilities due to hardships from the pandemic. While she was the sole tenant of her apartment at 1111 New Jersey Ave SE, two of her applications misrepresented her income to qualify for aid.
Furthermore, Ngon submitted applications for addresses she no longer resided at or never lived, including using a family member’s identity without their knowledge to claim tens of thousands in back rent. In total, her fraudulent actions led to her unlawfully receiving large sums from the program, which were intended to assist those genuinely in need during the pandemic.
Ngon pleaded guilty on April 23, 2024, to multiple felony counts including first-degree fraud, theft, and identity theft, reflecting serious violations of trust and legal standards.
New Jersey Correctional Officer Charged with Violating Inmate’s Rights
PHILADELPHIA, PA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero has announced the arrest and indictment of Ivory S. Cousins, a 35-year-old correctional officer from West Deptford, New Jersey.
Cousins is charged with multiple offenses, including violating the constitutional rights of an inmate at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia.
The charges stem from an incident in August 2019, where Cousins allegedly ignored the serious injuries of an inmate who had been assaulted by other inmates.
According to the indictment, Cousins displayed deliberate indifference to the inmate’s medical needs, failed to secure medical attention, and even obstructed a superior officer from discovering the inmate’s injuries.
Further allegations in the indictment include Cousins using excessive force by pepper spraying the injured inmate and assisting another inmate in stealing the victim’s personal belongings. Cousins is also accused of providing false information in her report, claiming the injured inmate was aggressive and had used a weapon.
If convicted on all charges, Cousins faces a maximum possible sentence of 41 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million, and a $400 special assessment.
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Publish date : 2024-08-10 22:44:00
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