Arrests at Massage Parlors Offering Sex - Hometown News Now

[mnews]

(Michigan City, IN) - Five people were arrested Monday at three Michigan City massage parlors allegedly offering sexual favors for extra money.

Lihong Zhu, 45, is charged with Level 6 felony maintaining a common nuisance. Juan Xiao, 39, is charged with Class A misdemeanor prostitution. Both women are from Chicago and were taken into custody at 2707 Franklin Street where more than $1,800 in cash was seized, according to written findings in the case submitted in La Porte Superior Court 4.

Also from Chicago, Zhangping Chen, 53, along

with Xiaozhi Zeng, 51, are each charged in the same court with Class A misdemeanor prostitution. More than $2,900 in cash was seized where they were arrested at 1416 Franklin Street, according to court documents.

Yiqun Chen, 52, also of Chicago, is charged in the same court with Class A misdemeanor prostitution for her alleged conduct at Ruby Massage at 1706 E. U.S. 20

where just over $1,700 in cash was confiscated, court records show.

According to court documents filed in each of the cases, the investigation began late last year in response to complaints of standard massages offered for a fee as well as sexual favors, including intercourse, for an additional price.

Rates for sex acts ranged from whatever tips customers wanted to leave up to a specific fee of as much as $200, police said.

The investigation included surveillance

operations in January and February by the La Porte County Drug Task Force at each location along with undercover officers recently posing as customers.

The undercover officers started receiving standard massages then left after receiving offers for sexual favors at an additional cost.

At one of the locations, after exchanging money

for intercourse, an officer was told “here’s the girl for the $100.” The officer then walked out, according to court documents.

Another officer was alledgely informed by one of the suspects giving him a massage that “we have a full list of services.” When he asked if they offered sex, the woman replied “sex was $200,” court documents revealed.

After obtaining search warrants, police said cash was found on countertops, inside desk drawers and other places like inside the pages of notebooks. Bank statements along with receipts for transactions were also confiscated.