Six people arrested in Florida massage parlor crackdown - WPEC

[massage]

FDLE announces arrests of 6 people in massage parlor crackdown in Operation Spa LLC.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) —
Six people are under arrest as part of a statewide crackdown of a suspected prostitution ring at massage parlors.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement looked at 13 Asian Massage parlors, from Naples to Tallahassee, as part of "Operation Spa, LLC."

Authorities said women of Chinese descent offered sex acts in exchange for additional money after providing massages, according to the FDLE.

State investigators said the parlors are all owned by 67-year-old Robert Neil Jones of Naples. Police in Kauai, Hawaii, arrested him on Friday on racketeering, money laundering and conspiracy-related charges.

Investigators launched the probe at the request of the Collier County Sheriff's Office and Sarasota Police Department.

“We’re thankful to our partners at the FDLE and other area law enforcement agencies for partnering with us to stop these types of massage parlors from being in our communities,” said Chief Bernadette DiPino, Sarasota Police Department. “The human trafficking that is happening as a result of these establishments is modern day slavery. But this is just the beginning. We’re going to continue to partner with the FDLE and local law enforcement agencies to make sure these types of businesses are closed and the men and women who are being abused get the help that they need,” said Chief DiPino.

In addition to Jones, authorities arrested Xuan Lang, 47, of Naples; Jun Lang, 40, of Naples; Jing Zhang, 32, of Naples; Lianying Ma, 61, of Naples; and Ziyi Lang, 44, of Naples. They're all facing charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering. Xuan and Jun Lang face additional charges of money laundering, use of investment of proceeds from pattern of racketerring activity, and conspiracy to commit racketeering.

Authorities arrested ten additional individuals on charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering.


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