Posted on 10/28/2005 7:57:18 AM PDT by Calpernia
SAN JOSE – Five Chinese nationals from the South Bay are in custody this afternoon facing federal charges following the execution of search warrants yesterday targeting 10 unlicensed massage parlors that were allegedly being operated as brothels in San Jose, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. The suspects, who are expected to make their initial appearance in federal court here this afternoon, are charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to conceal and harbor illegal aliens for financial gain.
The arrests and searches are the result of a year-long undercover investigation called “Operation Bad Neighbor” that involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the police departments of San Mateo and San Jose. The investigation began in the fall of 2004, when one of the suspects sought to bribe a police officer for the dismissal of local pimping and pandering charges against one of the other defendants.
According to the criminal complaint in the case, the five defendants operated a series of unlicensed underground massage parlors in South Bay residential neighborhoods that employed illegal alien women from Asia as prostitutes. In an effort to prevent the brothels from being detected, the defendants allegedly bribed undercover officers, posing as corrupt police officers, for “protection” of the brothel sites.
Those charged in the complaint include:
Xiao Fend Shen, a.k.a. “James,” 34, of San Jose, tourist visa overstay;
Yan Song, a.k.a. “Katie” and “Cathy,” 42, of San Jose, lawful permanent resident (conditional);
Ming Sun, 31, of San Jose, tourist visa overstay;
Jia Jing Chu, a.k.a. “Peter,” 34, of San Jose, under a stay of deportation;
and Ai-Ching Chang, a.k.a. “Tina,” 45, of Sunnyvale, lawful permanent resident (conditional).
In addition to the criminal arrests, officers are interviewing 31 women who were found working at the brothels. The women, who are nationals of Taiwan, China, and Korea, are being interviewed as potential material witnesses in connection with the investigation. The women are being provided with appropriate medical care and victim-witness assistance while in custody. Investigators are interviewing the women to determine whether any of them were forced to engage in prostitution or were the victims of human trafficking. “Operation Bad Neighbor targeted an alleged scheme of alien harboring tied to brothels posing as massage parlors,” said Kevin V. Ryan, United States attorney for the northern district of California. “The crimes alleged in this case degrade the women involved and have a detrimental impact on the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”
According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement officers received anonymous tips during the investigation alleging that some of the women may have been victims of sex trafficking. In one instance, a woman who claims to have worked for Song, alleged that the defendant purportedly offered women assistance in fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship in exchange for money. The anonymous complaint alleged that the women would work off their debts by engaging in prostitution and that Song threatened to withhold the women’s immigration papers until their debts were repaid.
“Unfortunately, people who are lured to this country for illicit purposes are often treated like a commodity, making them an easy target for all kinds of exploitation,” said Charles DeMore, special agent-in-charge of ICE investigations in San Francisco. “ICE is committed to using its immigration authorities to attack and dismantle criminal enterprises that prey on the vulnerable, threatening the welfare of not only the victims, but of entire communities.”
In conjunction with last night’s arrests, officers executed search warrants at 14 locations, including 10 suspected brothels. During the searches, investigators seized approximately $170,000 in cash. In addition, agents served search warrants on bank accounts associated with three of the defendants, seizing an additional $208,000.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. If convicted on the harboring charge, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
# ICE #
More on Human trafficking and Sex Tours:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1508518/posts
Sex Trafficking Goes Primetime: Lifetime Channel's 'Human Trafficking'
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1472612/posts
Sex Tourism: Addressing the Demand for Trafficking
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1103602/posts
Travel Agents Indicted for Arranging 'Sex Tours'
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1168921/posts
Teenagers offer cheap sex (New Zealand prostitution)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1189898/posts
Charges Dismissed In 'Sex Tours' Case
ICE ping
Me Love You Long Time.....
Why thank you!
Now what do you think of the article?
/teasing
Interestingly, the victims of trafficking can obtain legal U.S. residency under certain conditions.
Those two conditional permanent residents are no doubt on marital visas. They will be going home soon enough.
>>>Those two conditional permanent residents are no doubt on marital visas.
Think how much more that will be abused if same sex marriage ever gets passed.
ping
This story doesn't have a "happy ending" :-)
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
You try sper-check now. Is
"Happy ending PING!!!"
Horrible. Everyone needs to be aware that slavery still exists in this country.
bump
Ping to this and other links to threads in this ugly slavery problem that exists today.
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