New details released on arrests related to Rogers massage parlor raids - KFSM 5Newsonline

[Spencer Bailey]

Investigators found that ads for Tulip Spa had been posted on an escort website as early as December 2021 and as recently as September 2023.



ROGERS, Ark. — An affidavit filed last month is shedding new light on the raids carried out at multiple Northwest Arkansas massage parlors in January.


The raids, part of Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's Operation Obscured Vision, led to the arrest of three people in Rogers.


During a press conference on Jan. 24, Griffin shared that locations across the state dubbed "illicit massage parlors" were raided as part of the operation that was hoping to combat human trafficking in the Natural State.


The following people were arrested and are facing charges related to their alleged work with three spas that were raided in Rogers:

• Chunli Wang, aged 51 - Second-degree sexual assault
• Yuhe Yang, aged 70 - Trafficking of persons, engaging in a continuing criminal gang, organization, or enterprise
• David Whited, aged 63 - Trafficking of persons, engaging in a continuing criminal gang, organization, or enterprise

While the probable cause affidavits for Wang and Yang were heavily redacted with some pages completely blacked out, an affidavit in the Whited case was unredacted, and included details that shed light on the investigation into all three suspects.


According to the affidavit, the investigation into the parlors began as early as June 19, 2023, when an anonymous person contacted Rogers police and said that while receiving a massage at Tulip Spa, a woman took more money than agreed upon out of his wallet and then exposed her breasts.


When police tried to make contact at the business, employees ran out the back, the affidavit says. Two employees were from California and said they saw an advertisement for the job in Arkansas on a Chinese website.


Additionally, two other employees were allegedly sleeping on beds in the back of Tulip Spa and appeared to be living there, appearing to be living there.


The affidavit links Tulip Spa, Stream Massage, and Ping Massage as a network, connecting the suspects as having management roles at each with Yang as the "runner."

• Tulip Spa — David Whited, owner, and Chunli Wang, manager
• Stream Massage — Chunli Wang, owner
• Ping Massage — David Whited, owner

Sexual services​

During a traffic stop in August 2023, Rogers detectives spoke to a person who told police he was involved in "multiple sex acts" at Tulip Spa, the document says.


Police also discovered multiple anonymous comments left on a site reviewing sexual experiences at the three spas.


Investigators found that ads for Tulip Spa had been posted on an escort website as early as December 2021 and as recently as September 2023. Similar ads for Ping Massage were found in January 2025 and advertised "happy endings."


In 2025, an undercover RPD detective went to Tulip Spa while wearing a wire with cash from the department's buy funds. There, he was reportedly offered a sexual service.


This happened again the following day at Stream Massage, where the masseuse said patrons could "touch her sexually with her clothes off or her clothes on but she did not allow people to penetrate her," investigators say.


According to court documents, a similar encounter happened with an undercover Benton County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) detective at Ping Massage on Jan. 22.

Employee conditions​

After surveillance of the spas was carried out, the affidavit reiterated that workers at the spas were living there.


"Through surveillance conducted in December of 2024 through January of 2025, it is believed that workers are living within the business of Tulip Spa ... due to the business opening and closing without anyone arriving by vehicle or on foot. All customers observed during surveillance were male customers," the document says.


Employees told police they worked seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and that Yang would use his phone to watch their movements on cameras in the businesses.


The employees claimed they were paid $20 for an hour massage and $40 for a 90-minute massage. They told investigators they weren't paid for 30-minute massages.


"Employees stated they only got paid if they had customers. Employees advised other than tips, they had no additional compensations from the business," the affidavit says.


The employees were allegedly ordered to pay $25 a day to live at the business and were instructed by Yang and Wang to "do what the customer wanted to make more money."


One employee reported to investigators that Yang and Wang would yell and call them "useless" if they didn't do more and that they needed to take their clothes off for the customer.


At least one worker reportedly said their status in the U.S. was threatened by Yang, according to the affidavit:


"One of the employees advised she was told by Yuhe Yang if she spoke with law enforcement it would affect her immigration since she was not an American citizen. She made multiple statements about not wanting this investigation to go on her immigration 'record.' After conveying I was not employed by immigration and our conversations would not affect her immigration status, the employee burst into tears and began to share more information."


The employees reportedly said they told their bosses that they wanted to leave but were told they couldn't until other girls arrived to replace them.


The documents added that throughout continued surveillance, Yang and Wang were observed "taking supplies and female employees to the different massage parlors."

Search warrants​

On Jan. 23, the same day Wang was arrested, RPD and Arkansas State Police executed a search warrant at Tulip Spa and Stream Massage, while BCSO executed a warrant at Ping Massage.


During the searches, at least four women were located and transported to a separate location to be interviewed.


One of the women agreed to speak to officers and shared that Whited was the "boss" of the business. She said Yang coordinated the hiring and transportation of the girls to and from the airport, the affidavit says.


The woman said sexual acts did not occur at the business.


Yang was later interviewed and explained he was the "runner" for the businesses. He said he got the job after Wang posted job advertisements on a Chinese website, adding that Wang and Whited were the bosses.


Yang denied sexual acts occurring at the businesses.


Whited was later interviewed by police and said he was approached by Yang at a parlor in Roland, Oklahoma, where he asked him to lease the building for them in Rogers.


Whited said that he agreed to have the parlors in his name as a "favor," and that he specifically told Yang no "hanky-panky" was to occur in the businesses.


According to court documents, Whited claimed he forgot he had the utilities and bank accounts for the businesses in his name because of a stroke he had 13 years ago.


Law enforcement officials and Benton County Prosecutor Bryan Sexton have previously told 5NEWS that the investigation into the Rogers locations are ongoing.


Yang is expected in court on March 17, Wang on March 10, and Whited on March 24.