Six charged after O.C. investigation turns up ring of 10 brothels
By H.G. Reza, Times Staff Writer
2:31 PM PDT, March 22, 2007
Six people were in custody today and charged with pimping and operating 10 brothels staffed by Chinese prostitutes.
Law enforcement officials said the ring was broken up after a three-year investigation by local and federal agencies in the largest such investigation in Orange County. The ring, which police suspect may have included 30 brothels, also allegedly operated in Los Angeles and Riverside counties.
The brothels, operated by five Chinese nationals and an American, were advertised as acupuncture centers and massage parlors, but sex was the only service offered, Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said at a news conference today.
In an apparent effort to economize, customers were asked to use plastic food wrap instead of condoms. Jian Shi, a 49-year-old Montebello resident and ringleader, purchased 7,500 square feet of plastic wrap over a two-month period, said Rackauckas.
"I really don't think about [plastic food wrap] in the same way anymore," the district attorney said.
Anaheim police Capt. Joe Reiss said 15 of the massage parlors and acupuncture centers allegedly run by Shi were in that city and 16 were elsewhere in Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.
William J. Hayes, an investigator with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the prostitutes were willing participants. Federal officials are checking the immigration status of those involved, who authorities said are ethnic Chinese. Ten women who are Chinese citizens have been charged with misdemeanor counts of prostitution, authorities said.
The others arrested were Hong Jun Bai, 42, of Rowland Heights; Guo Hua Chen, 56, Monterey Park; and Xueyan Yu, 49, Huntington Beach. Also arrested were John Couch, 46, and his wife, Yu Mei Cheng-Couch, 38, of San Clemente. The Couches allegedly operated a brothel in Dana Point.
By H.G. Reza, Times Staff Writer
2:31 PM PDT, March 22, 2007
Six people were in custody today and charged with pimping and operating 10 brothels staffed by Chinese prostitutes.
Law enforcement officials said the ring was broken up after a three-year investigation by local and federal agencies in the largest such investigation in Orange County. The ring, which police suspect may have included 30 brothels, also allegedly operated in Los Angeles and Riverside counties.
The brothels, operated by five Chinese nationals and an American, were advertised as acupuncture centers and massage parlors, but sex was the only service offered, Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said at a news conference today.
In an apparent effort to economize, customers were asked to use plastic food wrap instead of condoms. Jian Shi, a 49-year-old Montebello resident and ringleader, purchased 7,500 square feet of plastic wrap over a two-month period, said Rackauckas.
"I really don't think about [plastic food wrap] in the same way anymore," the district attorney said.
Anaheim police Capt. Joe Reiss said 15 of the massage parlors and acupuncture centers allegedly run by Shi were in that city and 16 were elsewhere in Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.
William J. Hayes, an investigator with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the prostitutes were willing participants. Federal officials are checking the immigration status of those involved, who authorities said are ethnic Chinese. Ten women who are Chinese citizens have been charged with misdemeanor counts of prostitution, authorities said.
The others arrested were Hong Jun Bai, 42, of Rowland Heights; Guo Hua Chen, 56, Monterey Park; and Xueyan Yu, 49, Huntington Beach. Also arrested were John Couch, 46, and his wife, Yu Mei Cheng-Couch, 38, of San Clemente. The Couches allegedly operated a brothel in Dana Point.
