Naugatuck Spa Owner Charged With Trafficking, Permitting Prostitution: Police

NAUGATUCK, CT — The owner of a Naugatuck spa was arrested this week and charged with trafficking in persons and permitting and promoting prostitution, according to the Naugatuck Police Department.

In a news release, police said they began investigating Cedar Health Therapy Spa, located on Cedar Street, in November after receiving several complaints about prostitution activity.

Officers conducted surveillance on the business and confirmed the activity, and two employees were arrested in late December as a result, according to police.

After further investigation, officers identified the spa's owner as Yiqing Zhang, 44, of New Haven, police said.

According to police, Zhang was found to be the sole owner of the business "and exercised control over the business operations, premises and employees who were engaged in sexual acts, thereby profiting from the activity."

Police said Zhang also "employed foreign employees who were not properly licensed as masseuses in the state of Connecticut."

Naugatuck detectives were granted an arrest warrant for Zhang, who turned herself into police Wednesday.

Zhang was charged with trafficking in persons, permitting prostitution and second-degree promoting prostitution.

She was held on a $1.5 million court-set bond and arraigned in court Wednesday morning, according to police.