4 Chinese Nationals Indicted for Allegedly Running Brothels Disguised as Massage Spas

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Federal authorities say they have dismantled an alleged family-run sex trafficking operation in Pennsylvania that was disguised as massage parlors, after a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted four Chinese nationals

The defendants were indicted on charges of conspiracy, human trafficking, immigration violations, and money laundering, according to Troy Rivetti, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

“This Indictment represents the culmination of a multi-year collaborative effort involving all levels of municipal, state, and federal law enforcement, as well as the commitment of our office and law enforcement partners—not only during this National Human Trafficking Prevention Month but throughout the year—to combatting human trafficking and protecting its victims and survivors,” Rivetti said in a statement.

The indictment accuses Qiu, Lin, and Zhao of establishing, owning, and managing “business enterprises involving prostitution, including Sunny Spa, Point Spa, and Fun Spot, purporting said business enterprises to be legitimate massage parlors.”

The two spas operated out of leased properties in Erie, Pennsylvania, prosecutors said.

The defendants allegedly charged customers “house fees” to meet with a “masseuse” and additional “tips” for commercial sex acts. “In many cases, the ‘tips’ were paid in amounts between 100 [percent] and 400 [percent] of the initial ‘house fee,’” the indictment reads.

Additionally, the indictment alleges the defendants required individuals engaged in prostitution to live in the massage parlors or in nearby rental properties.

Qin, Liu, and Zhao allegedly “kept, harbored, or controlled non-citizens as sex workers in violation of immigration reporting requirements under federal human trafficking statutes,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

According to the indictment, Lin and Zhai transported a female employee of the enterprise from Sunny Spa to Point Spa and then to New York on June 16, 2024.

On Aug. 13 last year, Zhai allegedly drove a female employee of the enterprise from Flushing to Pennsylvania, the indictment stated.

Unlike the three other defendants, Zhai is not accused of owning or managing the illicit businesses. According to a court document, prosecutors are advancing the Aug. 13 trip as the basis for charging Zhai with transporting an individual across state lines for the purpose of prostitution.

To run their illicit massage parlors, the defendants allegedly opened and maintained several bank accounts, including at JPMorgan Chase Bank and Bank of America, according to the indictment.

A portion of the money from the alleged illicit business was used to purchase a residence in Flushing, which the defendants shared, according to prosecutors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that the alleged illicit business started in November 2023 and continued until Jan. 20 of this year.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the FBI, Erie County Detectives, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.

“This investigation underscores the critical importance and strength of unified law enforcement efforts and shared resolve to identify, disrupt, and eradicate these crimes,” Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz said in a statement.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to continued collaboration to protect victims, safeguard our community, and eliminate human trafficking and related exploitation wherever it exists.”

On Jan. 28, Qiu and Zhao made their initial appearances before Chief Magistrate Judge Richard Lanzillo in Erie. On the same day, Zhao also had her arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed motions with the judge requesting that the four defendants be detained pending trial.

The Epoch Times contacted Qiu and Zhao’s lawyers for comment but did not receive a response by publication time. Lin and Zhai’s lawyers could not be reached.

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