Four Charged with Operating Illicit Massage Parlors in New Jersey And New York

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Newark, NJ — Four individuals have been charged with running a network of illegal massage parlors in New Jersey and New York, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

The defendants, Zhejun Piao, 37, a Chinese national; Miyeon Choi, 37, a South Korean national; Shangxian Cui, 36, a Chinese national; and Meixiang Jin, 34, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, have been charged with conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise. They were arrested on August 8, 2024, and made their initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court. All were subsequently released.

Court documents reveal that since at least May 2017, the defendants operated several massage parlors in New Jersey and New York that allegedly offered sexual services for money. The New Jersey locations include Coco Spa in Paterson, Gold Spa in Passaic, 785 Spa in Passaic, Bergen Acupressure in Fairview, Queen Spa in Edgewater, Hawaii Spa in Edgewater, Good Day Spa in East Brunswick, and Spa Wellness in Toms River. In New York, the New Soothing Day Spa in New Rochelle was implicated.

The defendants allegedly advertised these sexual services online, using images of female sex workers and descriptions of the services offered. Evidence gathered by law enforcement shows that the defendants were aware of and involved in the illegal activities. For instance, emails indicated that Choi reviewed draft advertisements for the spas, and both Choi and Piao were involved in transferring cryptocurrency to an online advertising company. Cui was observed transporting supplies to the spas and making cash deposits of over $50,000 with Jin.

The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the investigation to special agents from Homeland Security Investigations Newark, the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, and the New Jersey State Police, among others. Several other local and federal law enforcement agencies were also involved in the case.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey S. Smith and Javon Henry from the General Crimes Unit in Newark.

It is important to note that the charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.