Rockville Salon Owner Charged with Human Trafficking

ROCKVILLE, MD — Several women from New York were reportedly the victims of human trafficking, say authorities, who charge they were kept housed in a Rockville salon owner’s home.

Some of the women who worked at Star Foot Spa and the Sun Foot Spa, located at 966 Hungerford Drive, Suites 11A and 11B in Rockville, reportedly also engaged in prostitution.

Montgomery County Police detectives have charged spa owner Tin Tuan Lu, 37, of the 12900 block of Town Commons Drive in Germantown, with committing human trafficking.

Signs of human trafficking:

• Multiple people living in a cramped space and/or living with their employer
• Employer holding employee’s identification documents
• Inability to speak with the individual alone
• Submissive or fearful behavior by employee

In November 2015, detectives received tips about possible prostitution occurring at the two businesses owned by Lu in Rockville.

Investigators learned Lu would drive six to eight women from his home to the spas in the morning to start work. The women worked at the spas during the day and returned home with Lu in the evening.

Some of the female employees performed sexual acts on customers in exchange for additional money while they were working in the spas, police say.

During a search at the Star Foot Spa and the Sun Foot Spa on March 10, investigators found seven women from New York working in the spas.

On March 18, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Lu charging him with four counts of human trafficking. He turned himself into police on March 23, and was released after posting a $50,000 bond.

Investigators ask anyone with information about suspected human trafficking occurring to call police at 240-773-5959.

»Photo of suspect Tin Tuan Lu, courtesy of Montgomery County Police