Framingham Massage Parlor A Cog In Human Trafficking For Sex Operation

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Four are facing human trafficking charges after law enforcement targeted "massage parlors" in Western Mass. with victims transported from New York and trafficked in multiple communities including Framingham, Hadley, Northampton, East Longmeadow and Agawam.

The four have been indicted with trafficking women in Western Massachusetts after law enforcement dismantled the criminal operations in a major multistate law enforcement takedown in December, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

“Far too often, we are finding that these body works establishments operate as fronts for human trafficking,” said AG Healey in a statement. “We will continue to takedown these criminal enterprises and disrupt these business models that are based on making a profit off of the sexual exploitation of human beings.”

The defendants were indicted on Wednesday by a Statewide Grand Jury on the following charges:

Feng Ling Liu, age 50 - Trafficking in Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts); Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts); Transacting in Laundered Money (3 counts); Deriving Support From Prostitution (3 counts); Keeping a House of Ill Fame (3 counts)

Jian Song, age 48 - Trafficking in Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts); Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts); Transacting in Laundered Money (3 counts); Deriving Support From Prostitution (3 counts); Keeping a House of Ill Fame (3 counts)

Ting Ting Yin, age 26 - Trafficking in Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts); Conspiracy to Traffic Persons for Sexual Servitude (3 counts); Transacting in Laundered Money (3 counts); Deriving Support From Prostitution (3 counts); Keeping a House of Ill Fame (3 counts)

Shuzi Li, age 52 - Trafficking in Persons for Sexual Servitude (2 counts); Transacting in Laundered Money (2 counts); Deriving Support From Prostitution (2 counts); Keeping a House of Ill Fame (2 counts)

Liu, Song and Yin allegedly trafficked women between New York and locations in Hadley, East Longmeadow, and Framingham. Liu and Yin will be arraigned in Hampshire Superior Court on Friday and in Hampden and Middlesex Counties at later dates. Song will be arraigned in all three courts at later dates.

Li allegedly trafficked women between New York and her businesses in Northampton and Agawam. Li will be arraigned in Hampshire Superior Court tomorrow and will also be arraigned in Hampden Superior Court at a later date.

In this months-long joint investigation, authorities found that Li and Liu were the leaders of criminal operations, running profitable and organized criminal enterprises through “massage parlors” that had been set up as fronts for human trafficking.

The investigation revealed that Liu, with help from Song and Yin, allegedly operated Hadley Massage Therapy in Hadley, Feng Health Center in East Longmeadow and Massage Body Work in Framingham. Authorities also developed evidence that Li was running a similar operation at her businesses, Pine Spa in Northampton and Agawam Massage Therapy in Agawam.

Li Liu's employees would perform sexual services for a fee at the parlors, with the defendants getting a majority of the profits from the encounters. Ten victims were identified during the investigation and authorities recovered a significant amount of cash during the execution of search warrants. The money, according to the announcement, was used for expensive jewelry, cars, travel and bank accounts for the four facing charges.

The victims often lived in the businesses and depended on Li, Liu, Song, and Yin for transportation, groceries and other supplies. The defendants allegedly recruited women, advertised sexual services online, set up appointments for sexual encounters, and arranged for transportation for the women.

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