Brooklyn DA And Police Close Down 12 Local Massage Parlors

The 12 Busted Spots
The 12 Busted Spots

The promises of Councilman Vincent Gentile are coming to pass as the NYPD and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office have cracked down on a dozen massage parlors suspected of participating in illegal sex trade activities. According to a press release, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly have busted 12 day spas and massage parlors in Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst that have been suspected of participating in sex trafficking.

As we’ve previously reported, local politicians gave fair warning to shady businesses trying to get away with prostitution and sex trafficking. Gentile promised that action was imminent regarding the status of the illegal parlors.

“I remain in close touch with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and other law enforcement agencies with regard to massage parlors in our area. However, I must be careful not to jeopardize an ongoing investigation. There is a lot going on behind the scenes and this remains a high priority of mine,” Gentile said at the end of June.

Residents became weary of the parlors after noticing explicit online ads on Craigslist and Backpage. The arrests represented the culmination of a year-long investigation run by the Kings County District Attorney Special Investigations Unit and the Brooklyn South Vice Unit of the NYPD. The press release described the methods used:

This operation, which utilized physical surveillance, undercover detectives, and search warrants, revealed substantial evidence of prostitution, promoting prostitution, and other violations of the NYS Education and Worker’s Compensation Laws, as well as the New York City Health, Safety and Zoning regulations and laws.

Hynes was hopeful that the large bust would serve a warning to any potential shady businessman looking to enter the sex trade.

“I hope that these arrests will send a message not only to the communities of  Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge, but throughout Brooklyn, that I share their concerns regarding these purported “day spas” and “massage therapists” and we will not tolerate illicit operations that exploit women and blight neighborhoods,” Hynes said in a release.

The District Attorney released a list of those arrested, the businesses they were affiliated with and their crimes:

Jai Li 7103 Ft. Hamilton:
  1. Chen, Su Qin: Promoting Prostitution/Unauthorized Practice of a Profession.
Shirley Day Spa 7811 5th Avenue:
  1. Xiqian, Linzhang: Unauthorized Practice of a Profession.
  2. Lin, Danfeng: Unauthorized Practice of a Profession.
  3. Xu, Hai Ying (Owner): Unauthorized Practice of a Profession.
11 Spa 8515 4th Avenue:
  1. Qing, Liang Zhang: Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
  2. Ping, Chen Jun: Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
You Ya 8313 3rd Avenue:
  1. Wu, Jinzhi: Prostitution/Unauthorized Practice of a Profession.
  2. Liu, Zhihong:  Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
883 Health 883 72nd Street:
  1. Xu, Yan: Prostitution/Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
Cherry Blossom 479 73rd Street:
  1. Chen, Yalin: Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
  2. Chen, Gui Ying (Owner) : Promoting Prostitution/Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
Natural 7012 Ft. Hamilton Pkwy:
  1. Sai, Kam (owner) : Prostitution/Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
Dream 351 99th Street:
  1. Young, Kim: Prostitution/Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
  2. Li, Feng: Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
Anyu 7109 8th Avenue:
  1. Chen, Xu: Prostitution, Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
Lucky 36 Avenue O:
  1. Shun, Li: Prostitution, Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
  2. Lan, Jin Ying: Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
Jan Mei 6920 13th Avenue:
  1. Hung, Jing Naci: Prostitution/Unauthorized Practice of a Profession
Wonderful 6701 13th Avenue:
  1. Yang, Chen Xi: Prostitution/Unauthorized Practice of a Profession