Suspects arrested in a prostitution sting at multiple Chinese massage parlors in West Monroe are connected to businesses in other states and arrests in other Louisiana cities.
Search warrants were executed at both the West Monroe Shangri-La Spa in the 1400 block of North Seventh Street, the China Massage and Spa on Blanchard Street and at a residenceon Tuesday. The arrests followeda multi-month investigation by the West Monroe Police Department.
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During the searches, important documents were found involving many customers and included contact information.
The West Monroe Police Department encourages anyone who was a client of the business or who has any information regarding illegal activity at the locations to contact Detective Ray Spoon.
The News-Star has verified that the woman suspected of running the local operation, Haiping Sun, 45, of 18868 Jefferson Highway B, Baton Rouge,was also arrested in October 2017 in Shreveport during a prostitution round-up. A Haiping Sun is also the registered agent for a business named Chinese Massage and Spain Prairieville as of October 2016.
That roundup involved the Magic Hands Asian Massage Parlor on Bert Kouns Industrial Loop and the Shangri-La Massage and Spa at 437 Kings Highway.
Sun facesfelony charges of pandering and promoting prostitution.
The 437 Kings Highway address is also the listed home address of Yuanqiao Han,44, who is accused of pandering and promoting prostitution in connection with the West Monroe arrests.
Han's arrest affidavit states she pays rent and utilities for the Shangri-La spa and rotated some of her workers out of state to California.
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According to the West Monroe Police Department, the operation also unveiled women being forced to live at the Shangri-La Spa and working past hours of operation for the business.
Workers at the China Massage and Spa were also transported daily by the registered owner of the vehicle and manager of the location, Lijuan Yang, age 37, Parkwest Drive to West Monroe.
Yang was allegedly running day-to-day operations at the China Massage and Spa and was responsible for performing illegal massages as well as setting up illegal massages for other employees to conduct at the location.
The report states several illegal massages were performed during undercover operations, with the suspects touching the genitals of the clients during the massages
Yang is facing charges ofpromoting prostitution, prostitution by massage and criminal conspiracy.
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Two additional employeesalso facecharges.
Haiyan Liu, 45, of Parkwest Drive, is accused of prostitution by massage and criminal conspiracy. According to the report, Liuwas scheduling appointments and conducting massages at China Massage and Spa
Han Yuan Dong, 42, of North Seventh Street, is accused of criminal conspiracy for allegedly scheduling illegal massage appointments at the Shangri La Spa.
According to a police department statement, the investigation remains active and ongoing. The department anticipates making additional arrests connected to the investigation.
According to the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office business registrations, China Massage and Spa registered its trade name with the state on Oct. 25, 2016.
The applicant for the trade name was Chinese Massage and Spa LLC. A Chinese Massage and Spa located in Prairievillewas registered with the Secretary of State's Office on Oct. 21, 2016 by an applicant namedHaiping Sun.
Sun was also charged with one count of massage establishments in April 2016 in Ascension Parish.
Shreveport arrests in October 2017
Vice agents with the Shreveport Police Departmentbegan executing search warrants on Oct.9atthe Magic Hands Asian Massage Parlor and 437 Kings Highway andthe Shangri-La Massage and Spa.
The investigation began after agents received tips that acts of prostitution were being performed at the two businesses.
Agents launched their investigation and over a period of several months developed information that led them to procure search warrants for the two businesses.
The search warrants resulted in seizing roughly $400,000 in cash and multiple prostitution related arrests.
Those arrested for crimes related to prostitution were as follows:
- Yilin-Li, 18, one count of massage; prohibited sexual conduct
- Liuying Liu, 44, one count of prostitution by massage
- Haiping Sun, 44, one count of promoting prostitution
- Jinfeng Qin, 51, one count massage; sexual conduct prohibited
- Yujiao Cui, 42, one count of prostitution
- Yuyan Li, 44,one count of prostitution
- Ping Wang, 50, massage; sexual conduct prohibited
All were booked into Caddo Correctional Center on their charges
Reporting from the Shreveport Times contributed to this report.
