Massage Parlor Operator Will Be Sentenced Wednesday

WOBURN, MA -- A Medford woman convicted on human trafficking charges will be sentenced in Woburn Superior Court Wednesday. Xiu J. Chen, 37, of Medford, and Ronald Keplin, 62, of Woburn, ran massage parlors in Bedford, Billerica, Medford, Reading, Wilmington and Woburn that were fronts for a human trafficking operation, according to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office.

"Chen and Keplin operated six businesses that were portrayed as massage parlors but were in fact fronts for an extensive human trafficking and money laundering operation," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement. "They characterized and advertised these businesses as providing ‘bodyworks’ services."

The pair operated several massage parlors in Middlesex County, including:

• Body Language – Wilmington, MA (which was located at 11 Middlesex Avenue)
• Bedford Asian Bodywork a/k/a Bedford Wellness Center – Bedford, MA
• Shrine Spa a/k/a Billerica Bodywork a/k/a Boston Chinese Club – Billerica, MA
• Mystic Health Center – Medford, MA
• Body Wellness Center – Reading, MA
• Asian Bodywork a/k/a Woburn Wellness Bodywork – Woburn, MA

State Police assigned to the AG's office arrested Chen and Keplin in May 2013. Authorities say they trafficked women along the eastern seaboard and arranged for overcrowded housing where the women typically slept on mattresses on the floor, or on the massage tables at the businesses. Chen and Keplin also allegedly facilitated the daily transportation of the women to and from the businesses.

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Patch file photo via Shutterstock.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).